Project Description
We want to understand what it’s like in LGBTQ+ communities for adult friends, family and partners (unpaid carers) who support someone living with suicidal thoughts and feelings. This will include looking at the challenges that they face, how they cope, and what kind of help they need but might not be getting. In this study either the carer, the loved one living with suicidality, or both the carer and loved one could identify as LGBTQ+.
Methods
The study is jointly run by two researchers based in a university (London School of Economics), one researcher working in mental health social care, and three researchers with relevant lived experience. We are working with Derbyshire LGBT+ and a Research Advisory Group including professionals with expertise in suicide prevention, carers in LGBTQ+ communities, and voluntary, mental health and carers support organisations. We’re interviewing 30-40 carers and asking 5-10 carers to keep diaries about their lives, their caring role, and the support that they personally receive or need. We’re also interviewing 10-15 representatives of mental health social care, LGBTQ+ organisations and carers groups. We'll create ‘personas’ that describe the experiences of some 'fictionalised' carers supporting loved ones with suicidal thoughts and feelings in LGBTQ+ communities, and will hold workshops with carers, support organisations, and mental health professionals to ‘sense check’ these personas.
Aims
Our aim is to find ways to better help these carers through improved mental health social care.
Further Project information
Principal Investigator: Jessica Carlisle
CPEC Research Team: TBD
Collaborators: Derbyshire LGBT+
