Launch of providing meaningful care: using the experiences of young suicidal men to inform mental healthcare services

Launch of providing meaningful care: using the experiences of young suicidal men to inform mental healthcare services
Thursday 1 December 2011, 9.30am - 12pm
Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey

We are delighted to announce the formal launch of a research report on suicide entitled: ‘Providing Meaningful Care: using the experiences of young suicidal men to inform mental health care services’. The research was undertaken in the Belfast and the Southern Health & Social Care Trust areas by a research team including researchers from Queens University Belfast and the University of Ulster.

The overarching aim of this research study was to obtain a comprehensive understanding of suicidal behaviour amongst men aged 16-34 years to underpin the provision of accessible, acceptable and appropriate mental health services.  The study objectives were to:

·   Elicit the experiences of men (aged 16-34 years) of being suicidal and their understandings of what would constitute meaningful caring.
·   Explicate the specific caring processes that might make ‘a difference’ to caring for the suicidal person, that is, to inform what health care professionals can do.

The evidence from the study highlights the importance of implementing a ‘package’ of measures.  These include Northern Ireland wide, population-level public health measures directed at reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with suicidal behaviour and related help-seeking.

To download a copy of the report go to www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/providing-meaningful-care-using-experiences-young-suicidal-men-inform-mental-health-car