title: What are the physical and psychological health effects of suicide bereavement on family members? Protocol for an observational and interview mixed-methods study in Ireland.
abstract: Research indicates that experiencing the suicide of a relative can have a significant impact on family members' emotional health. However, research incorporating the impact of suicide bereavement on family members' physical health is sparse. This paper details the protocol for a mixed-methods study of suicide-bereaved family members. The study will primarily examine the physical and mental health needs of those bereaved by suicide. A secondary objective of the study is to describe the support service needs of family members bereaved by suicide.
  
  
  
  A mixed-methods approach, using semistructured interviews and self-report questionnaires, will be used. Interviews will be conducted with a group of 15-20 relatives who experienced suicide bereavement. This protocol will follow the COREQ checklist criteria for the reporting of qualitative research interviews. Thematic analysis will be used to examine experiences and impact of bereavement on psychological and physical health. Self-report quantitative data on well-being will be analysed using descriptive statistics.
  
  
  
  Ethical approval to conduct this study has been granted from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Cork Teaching Hospitals. Pseudonyms will be given to participants to protect anonymity. It will be explained to participants that participation in the study is voluntary and they have to right to withdraw at any time. The findings of this research will be disseminated to regional, national and international audiences through publication in peer-reviewed international journals and presentations at scientific conferences. This research also forms part of a PhD thesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Cork, Ireland.|National Suicide Research Foundation, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ailbhe
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1172-2151
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spillane
authors.affiliation: National Suicide Research Foundation, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matvienko-Sikar
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Cork, Ireland.|National Suicide Research Foundation, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arensman
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D001601:Bereavement; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008603:Mental Health; D000073296:Noncommunicable Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: family members; mixed-methods; morbidity; suicide bereavement