A Qualitative Analysis of Motivators to Participation in Suicide-Focused Research from a Community-Based Australian Sample

Bibliographic Data

ID15465899
AuthorsDemee Rheinberger (0000-0002-4493-8565, Black Dog Institute, corresponding author), Fiona Shand (0000-0001-6765-228X, Black Dog Institute), Katherine Mok (0000-0001-7248-2692, Black Dog Institute), Lauren McGillivray (0000-0001-9022-0274, Black Dog Institute), Myfanwy Maple (0000-0001-9398-4886, University of New England), Alexander Burnett (0000-0002-8313-7883, Black Dog Institute), Lisa N Sharwood (0000-0001-8977-6144, University of Technology Sydney), Nicola A Chen (0000-0001-6648-6646, The University of Melbourne), Michelle Torok (0000-0003-3741-8075, Black Dog Institute)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue9
Pages4705-4705
Publication date2021-04-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18094705
PMID33925238
OpenAlexW3159816838
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited37

Suicide prevention strategies internationally appear to be falling short of making a meaningful impact on global suicide deaths. Increasing the rates of general community participation in suicide research may improve knowledge generalisability as it relates to suicidal behaviour and leads to new suicide prevention approaches. This study aims to explore the motivations of a community-based sample to participate in suicide research. A subsample of the Australian general population took part in an online survey which is part of a multilevel suicide prevention trial. The survey concluded with an optional open-text question asking about peoples' motivations for participating in the study; 532 participants left a response to this question. These responses were qualitatively analysed using Thematic Network Analysis. Motivations to participate in suicide research were represented by four global themes: altruism, solve systemic problems, lived experience, and personal benefit. Of these themes, three were focused on the benefit of others, while only the final theme articulated motivation to participate that was self-focused. The impact of suicide is felt throughout the wider community. This new understanding of the motivations of community-based samples to participate in suicide research should be used to increase participation rates and reach people who would not normally contribute their voice to suicide research

Environmental health · Medical emergency · Poison control · Population · Qualitative research · Sample (material · Social science · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Thematic analysis · Medicine · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Social Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies