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Mei Asakawa, Nagoya University, JapanAbstract
Online peer-support communities have become crucial spaces for individuals who are thinking of committing suicide (i.e., suicidal ideation) to express their distress and seek help. However, less is known about how these individuals perceive their help-seeking experience with professional (i.e., clinicians) or informal (i.e., family, friends, and partners) support sources, and how those experiences lead them to continue or discontinue seeking help. This study conducted a qualitative thematic analysis from an anonymous online platform dedicated to suicide-related disclosures, and further analyzed 348 comments explicitly expressing their experiences of help-seeking and mentioning engagement or discontinuation of help-seeking. As a result, most seek help from family (44%) or friends (41%), while they do not seek much help for partners (15%) or mental healthcare professionals (25%). Among professionals, psychologists received the most positive evaluations and were often quoted as “finally someone understands my struggles ”. Conversely, psychiatrists and hospitals evoked significant ambivalence linked to systemic barriers (i.e., costs and time). Experiences with crisis hotlines were mixed and highly dependent on the immediate and warm reactions of responders. Across all format categories, empathy was the primary positive driver to continue seeking help, while systemic barriers were dominant sources of discontinuation of support. In addition, a family’s attitudes are significant factors in deciding whether to continue seeking further help. These online narratives highlight the importance of “empathic” suicide-prevention.
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