Navigating Crisis: A Qualitative Exploration of Parents' Journeys with Suicidal Adolescents in Australian Emergency Departments

Rates of emergency department (ED) presentations for suicide crisis (thoughts, feelings, plans and behaviours) in adolescents are increasing. Parents play a key role in supporting adolescents during and after the ED presentation, however little is known about parental experiences in the ED. Interviews with 20 parents from across Australia were undertaken to help understand this experience. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted, resulting in three themes which explore the impact of the suicide crisis and ED presentation on the parents’ sense of identity. First, parents’ identity was threatened as they were faced with the juxtaposition between the role of protector and possible suicide death. Second, parents struggled with understanding their identity in the ED context, in which they were prevented from acting as primary carer of their child. Finally, parents’ identity transitioned after hospital discharge, as they altered their lives to accommodate constant monitoring of their child for fear of resurgence of the suicide crisis. Parents feel unsupported during this time yet are expected to provide life preserving care to their adolescent. More research is necessary to help us understand how parents can be better supported, and in turn, are better able to support their adolescent.