Scoping the experiences and needs of carers (friends and family) of people living with suicidal thoughts and feelings in LGBTQ+ communities in England

This exploratory co-produced study will investigate the experiences, strengths, and needs of adult friends, family, and partners (unpaid carers ) who support loved ones living with suicidal thoughts and feelings in LGBTQ+ communities in England. This research builds on evidence that the significant negative impacts on carers of supporting a loved one at risk of suicide are inadequately recognized by statutory mental health and social care systems. It is also informed by evidence (summarised in National Suicide Prevention Strategy) that LGBTQ+ communities are more at risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours than the general population, and that this risk is elevated for some particularly marginalised LGBTQ+ communities and some individuals within different LGBTQ+ communities. Little is known about suicide prevention by carers in LGBTQ+ communities; the significance of the intersectional impacts of their ethnicity, gender and sexual identities, socio-economic status, and disabilities on their experiences, strengths and needs; or, their access to support through statutory social care, voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, or their own social networks. This study aims to address this gap through co-production by a team of two university employed researchers, a researcher/practitioner, and three public researchers with relevant lived experience in collaboration with a LGBT+ centre and a Research Advisory Group (including people with lived experiences, the VCSE, and local authority adult social care). . The primary aim is to expand the evidence base about, and improve support mechanisms for, adult carers of people living with suicidality in LGBTQ+ communities. The study seeks to enhance understanding of how some carers cope, where they face systemic failures, and what support could improve outcomes for them and their loved ones. It also aims to build research capacity within the team, providing opportunities for professional development and enhancing our future contributions to mental health social care policy and practice. The final objective is to develop methodological approaches for this sensitive topic and prepare for future, more robust studies. The research will employ a flexible, co-produced approach, involving semi-structured interviews with 10-15 key informants and 30-40 carers, and diaries kept by 5-10 carers for 3-4 months. We will adopt innovative approaches towards recruiting a diversity of participants, monitoring their demographics and adapting our recruitment methods to increase inclusion. We will offer appropriate support to carer interviewees and diarists who will be paid for their involvement. Interview and diary data will be thematically analysed by the team with input from the Research Advisory Group. We will develop outputs illustrating key issues, commonalities, and differences in 'carer pathways' including fictionalised 'personas' of some carers, which we will test and refine in online and in-person workshops with people with relevant lived experience (including interviewees and diarists). We will work with the RAG and the team's networks to inform future national and local suicide prevention policies and the development of targeted programs by VCSEs and statutory services, addressing the specific needs of unpaid carers involved in suicide prevention in LGBTQ+ communities.