A Qualitative Analysis of Motivators to Participation in Suicide-Focused Research from a Community-Based Australian Sample

Demee Rheinberger, Fiona Shand, Katherine Mok, Lauren McGillivray, Myfanwy Maple, Alexander Burnett, Lisa N. Sharwood, Nicola A. Chen and Michelle Torok
Additional contact information
Demee Rheinberger: Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Fiona Shand: Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Katherine Mok: Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Lauren McGillivray: Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Myfanwy Maple: Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
Alexander Burnett: Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Lisa N. Sharwood: Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Nicola A. Chen: Orygen, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Michelle Torok: Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Suicide prevention strategies internationally appear to be falling short of making a meaningful impact on global suicide deaths. Increasing the rates of general community participation in suicide research may improve knowledge generalisability as it relates to suicidal behaviour and leads to new suicide prevention approaches. This study aims to explore the motivations of a community-based sample to participate in suicide research. A subsample of the Australian general population took part in an online survey which is part of a multilevel suicide prevention trial. The survey concluded with an optional open-text question asking about peoples’ motivations for participating in the study; 532 participants left a response to this question. These responses were qualitatively analysed using Thematic Network Analysis. Motivations to participate in suicide research were represented by four global themes: altruism, solve systemic problems, lived experience, and personal benefit. Of these themes, three were focused on the benefit of others, while only the final theme articulated motivation to participate that was self-focused. The impact of suicide is felt throughout the wider community. This new understanding of the motivations of community-based samples to participate in suicide research should be used to increase participation rates and reach people who would not normally contribute their voice to suicide research.

Keywords: suicide; suicide prevention; research participation; lived experience; thematic network analysis; qualitative methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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