ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: There is a growing body of evidence on suicide risk in family carers, but minimal research on parents caring for children with disabilities and long-term illnesses. The aim of this study was to conduct the first dedicated research on suicide risk in parent carers and identify: (1) the number of parent carers experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and (2) the risk and protective factors for suicidality in this population. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of parent carers in England (n = 750), co-produced with parent carers. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors were measured with questions from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Frequencies summarized the proportion of carers experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Logistic regressions identified risk and protective factors. RESULTS: 42% of parents had experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviors while caring for a disabled or chronically ill child. Only half had sought help for these experiences. Depression, entrapment, dysfunctional coping, and having a mental health diagnosis prior to caring, were significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: Parent carers contemplate suicide at levels that exceed those of other family carers and the general public. There is an urgent need, in policy and practice, to recognize parent carers as a priority group for prevention and intervention.
This is the first dedicated study of suicide risk in parent carers.More than 40% of parents had considered suicide while caring for a disabled or chronically ill child.The risk factors for suicidal ideation in parent carers were depression, entrapment, dysfunctional coping strategies, and having a mental health diagnosis prior to becoming a carer.Parent carers may be a high-risk group for suicide and need urgent support.
Subject(s)
Community Mental Health Services , Involuntary Treatment/methods , Social Work , Community Mental Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence , Community Mental Health Services/methods , Humans , Involuntary Treatment/legislation & jurisprudence , Ireland , Mental Disorders/therapy , Organizational Policy , Social Work/legislation & jurisprudence , Social Work/methods , United KingdomABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To estimate quality-of-life (QoL), primary care, health insurance, prevention behaviors, absenteeism, and presenteeism in a statewide sample of the unemployed, self-employed, and organizationally employed. METHODS: A statewide survey of 1602 Iowans included items from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention QoL and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey prevention behavior questionnaires used to assess employee well-being; their indicator results are related to World Health Organization's Health and Work Performance Questionnaire-derived absenteeism and presenteeism scores. RESULTS: The unemployed exhibited poorer QoL and prevention behaviors; the self-employed exhibited many better QoL scores due largely to better prevention behaviors than those employed by organizations. Higher QoL measures and more prevention behaviors are associated with lower absenteeism and lower presenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: Employment status is related to measures of well-being, which are also associated with absenteeism and presenteeism.
Subject(s)
Absenteeism , Employment/psychology , Health Behavior , Occupational Health/statistics & numerical data , Quality of Life/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Health Status Indicators , Health Surveys , Humans , Insurance, Health , Male , Middle Aged , Primary Health Care , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
A 23 year old pregnant lady at 35 weeks gestation presented to accident and emergency with worsening dyspnoea, palpitations and dizziness. Twelve lead electrocardiogram, routine bloods and echocardiography were normal. Ambulatory monitoring previously had shown an episode of monomorphic broad complex tachycardia (BCT) and a short episode of ventricular standstill. She was admitted for cardiac monitoring until delivery. Several episodes of ventricular standstill and self-terminating BCT were recorded, which were not associated with symptoms. The patient's symptoms either corresponded with sinus rhythm or supraventricular tachycardia. She underwent elective caesarean section at 37 weeks with no complications. The patient's symptoms reduced considerably post delivery, and she was discharged three days later. Unfortunately she then had a presyncopal episode whilst holding her baby. Due to concern regarding the safety of her baby she had a permanent pacemaker implanted to allow safe beta-blockade. She remains asymptomatic six months later.
