Online contact amongst survivors of suicide

A suicide does not only affect the person itself, but also close relatives and friends of the deceased. Research proves that survivors of suicide are a high-risk group and need to be supported in specific questions and problems. Contact amongst fellow-sufferers can have a positive impact on survivors, especially when they suffer from mild complaints.

Partners:

Go for Happiness
Werkgroep Verder
Trimbos Institute (NL)

Project started july 2010.

Duration: 2 years

Description:

The WerkgroepVerder.be website has been offering contacts amongst fellow-sufferers though a Forum for some time. The proposed study uses a pre-test and post-test design to examine whether survivors of suicide’s wellbeing increases thanks to this online contact with fellow-sufferers.

People (survivors) who are confronted with a suicide are at a higher risk of developing psychosocial problems, becoming depressed or dying through suicide themselves.
Hence, survivors of suicide are included in the Flemish Plan of Action for Suicide Prevention (Vlaams Actieplan Suïcidepreventie) as a high-risk group.
Werkgroep Verder coordinates and supports relief for survivors of suicide in Flanders.

Research questions and objectives.

Objectives

The aim of this survey is to find out to which degree survivors of suicide profit from online contacts with fellow-sufferers. The most important criterion will be the degree of psychic wellbeing. Other criteria are the degree of (complicated) mourning, depressed feelings, self-esteem and quality of living. Moreover, it will be investigated whether some groups profit to a higher of a lower degree from contacts with fellow-sufferers. This information is important for making an indication and for getting suggestions for possible adaptations in the nature of the online contacts. A qualitative part of the survey will investigate which explanations respondents give for the effect they experience from the online contact with fellow-sufferers.

Research questions:

Does participation in online contacts with fellow-sufferers have positive effects on survivors of suicide’s wellbeing, both on the short term (6 months after the start of the contact), and in the longer run (12 months after the start of the contact)?
Which groups of survivors of suicide profit most from online contacts with fellow-sufferers, and which groups less or not at all?
Which supporting and non-supporting processes take place during participation to online contacts with fellow-sufferers, according to participants profiting from the contact, compared to those who don’t participate? What do participants consider to be the cause of the success/lack of success?

Target group:

Survivors of suicide

Measuring points:

The survey is a pre-test/post-test research in an existing natural setting, consisting of three online measurements. At his/her first visit to the forum for suicide survivors on WerkgroepVerder.be’s website, the visitor will see an intermediate page on which he/she will be invited to participate in the survey.

The survey will start after an informed consent (see procedure). Participants will be asked three times to complete a questionnaire, which will be used to measure whether the psychic wellbeing increases following the online contacts with fellow-sufferers. It will also be investigated which groups profit to a higher or lower degree from the offer.

The aim is to get an answer to the first two survey questions: i.e.

(1) Does participation in online contacts with fellow-sufferers have positive effects on survivors of suicide’s wellbeing, both on the short term (6 months after the start of the contact), and in the longer run (12 months after the start of the contact)?

(2) Which groups of survivors of suicide profit most from online contacts with fellow-sufferers, and which groups less or not at all?

Finally there is a qualitative part in the survey. This consists of 20 telephone interviews with participants to online contacts with fellow-sufferers by a researcher. The aim is to interview 10 participants indicating a profit from online contacts and 10 not experiencing any profit. This will lead to an answer on the third question, i.e. Which supporting and non-supporting processes take place during participation to online contacts with fellow-sufferers, according to participants profiting from the contact, compared to those who don’t participate? What do participants consider to be the cause of the success/lack of success?

Measuring moments
Participants will complete an online questionnaire when registering for participation to the contact (t0), 6 months after registration (t1) and 12 months after registration (t2). The completion of the questionnaires is automated. Participants will receive an e-mail at the three moments with a link to the online questionnaire.

Timeplan:

July2010– July 2012

Validation:

Werkgroep Verder, Nabestaanden na Zelfdoding (www.werkgroepverder.be)
Trimbos Instituut (www.trimbos.nl)

Partners: