Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36786386›Full record

SynthesisPsychology and psychotherapy2023

Caring for a friend or family member who has experienced suicidal behaviour: A systematic review and qualitative synthesis.

Paul Marshall, Keith Sansom, Glorianna Jagfeld, Steven Jones, Fiona Lobban

Open access · hybridAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Psychology and psychotherapy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
4.4field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Menopausal Suicidality and Fragmented Care: A Qualitative Study of Carer and Clinician Perspectives.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026
    Article
  3. Surviving the Tsunami of Receiving a 'Goodbye' Note.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Integrated Aftercare Support for Parents and Carers Following a Child's Suicide Attempt: A Qualitative Study.Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, Inc · 2025
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Paul MarshallDivision of Health Research, Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3913-3359
Keith SansomDivision of Health Research, Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Glorianna JagfeldDivision of Health Research, Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7588-1533
Steven JonesDivision of Health Research, Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8801-5113
Fiona LobbanDivision of Health Research, Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6594-4350
Mental Health Research UK · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeFriends and family members can be important sources of support for people who are or have been suicidal. This review aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence regarding carers' perspectives of supporting someone who has experienced suicidal behaviour.

methodsFive electronic databases (Web of Science, CINAHL, PsychINFO, MEDLINE, and SocINDEX) were searched from inception to May 2022. Eligible qualitative studies were published in English and investigated the caring experiences of friends or family members of people who had experienced suicidal behaviour, defined as any form of suicidal ideation and/or attempts. Studies focused on non-suicidal self-injury or suicide bereavement were excluded. Data from 19 eligible studies were analysed using thematic synthesis.

resultsInitial carer reactions to suicidal behaviour included profound anxiety and intensive monitoring for signs of increased suicide risk amongst those they supported. Carers also reported significant challenges with understanding how to provide effective interpersonal support following suicidal crises. Professional support was perceived to be most effective when provided in a timely, interpersonally sensitive and safety-focused manner. However, several studies detailed carers' difficulties accessing appropriate support and challenges managing their own distress.

conclusionsCarers face significant challenges with knowing how to respond to suicidal behaviour, where to find appropriate help, and how to manage their own distress. Future research should seek to investigate the effectiveness of easily accessible methods of information provision and support tailored for carers of people who have experienced suicidal behaviour.

Indexed as

Suicidal IdeationSuicideCaregiversFamilyHumansQualitative Researchcarersfamiliesqualitative synthesissuicidal behavioursystematic review

Identifiers

PMID36786386
PMCPMC10952656
OpenAlexW4320709133

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.