Talking about suicide may not be enough: family reaction as a mediator between disclosure and interpersonal needs

Abstract

Background: Although most people who make an attempt do not die, attempt survivors remain at particularly elevated risk for suicide in the short- and long-term. Moreover, the research on suicide-related disclosure and subsequent family reactions on risk factors for the development of suicidal desire is limited.

Aims: This study examined the relationships between disclosure, family reaction and two interpersonal needs connected to the development of suicidal desire.

Methods: Data from 74 attempt survivors who participated in a larger study were analyzed to assess the relationships between degree of suicide-related disclosure, quality of family reaction and thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness.

Results: Results indicated that higher rates of disclosure predicted more positive family reactions, which in turn predicted lower levels of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Although there was no direct relationship between disclosure and the outcome variables, bootstrapping analyses indicated that family reaction mediated the relationship between disclosure and both belongingness and burdensomeness.

Conclusions: These findings suggest the need for more family interventions that promote healthy reactions following suicide-related disclosure in order to facilitate the recovery and treatment process.

Keywords: attempt survivor; disclosure; family reaction; interpersonal needs; suicide.