Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0001-9351-3304

Date of Award

Summer 8-31-2025

Document Type

Campus Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Counseling

First Advisor

Sharon G. Horne

Second Advisor

Laura Hayden

Third Advisor

Steven Vannoy

Abstract

The alarming prevalence of suicidal behavior among youth is a pressing issue, with suicide ranking as the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 14 in the United States (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022a). Within the realm of youth mental health, parents bear the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety, care, and welfare of their children. Consequently, when children and adolescents experience chronic suicidality, parents play a crucial role in safeguarding their well-being and preserving their lives. However, there is limited understanding of how parents of chronically suicidal children navigate the complexities of the mental health care system. Hence, the current study is a critical constructivist grounded theory qualitative study that explored the experiences of parents who had previously accessed the mental health care system for their chronically suicidal child. The study consisted of semi-structured interviews with 14 participants. The findings illustrated the process parents of chronically suicidal children undergo in seeking mental health supports. This process included 5 overarching clusters, encompassing: (1) access to mental health treatment, (2) stigma and managing the emotional ramifications of caregiving, (3) treatment needs as identified by parents, (4) feelings of isolation and the benefits of peer support, and (5) advocacy. Research results revealed that parents with a chronically suicidal child encounter various barriers in accessing sufficient care, including systemic, cultural, and resource-related challenges, all of which pose risks to the child's well-being. This situation places significant emotional strain on parents, often leading to personal and professional sacrifices, as well as social stigma and isolation. Participants emphasized the need for accessible, comprehensive support services and widespread mental health education efforts to address these difficulties.

Comments

Free and open access to this Campus Access Thesis is made available to the UMass Boston community by ScholarWorks at UMass Boston. Those not on campus and those without a UMass Boston campus username and password may gain access to this thesis through Interlibrary Loan. If you have a UMass Boston campus username and password and would like to download this work from off-campus, click on the “Off-Campus Users” button.

Download
Off-Campus UMass Boston Users

Share

COinS