Ries, Christa H (2024) Attitudes, Perceptions and Beliefs Held Toward Mental Health Clinicians and Mental Health Services by Those With a Lived experience of suicide. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Despite the availability of effective, evidence-based interventions that decrease suicidal A G desire, individuals with a lived experience of suicide are often reluctant to engage with mental health clinicians or mental health services (Tang et al., 2022). Whilst research has identified insufficient care as a help-seeking issue (see Rens et al., 2023; Shand et al., 2018), less is known about how individuals living with suicidality view those who provide this care. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to explore the attitudes, perceptions and beliefs that those with a lived experience of suicide hold toward mental health clinicians and mental health services. E 1 0 Using reflexive thematic analysis, an overarching theme and two themes were identified. The overarching theme, willingness to engage, captures a recognition that receiving professional help is critical in keeping those with lived experiences of suicide safe. That is, despite challenges and setbacks there is an attitude of persistence to engage with mental health clinicians/services. Theme one, care despite challenges, describes the difficulties posters experience when trying to secure this essential professional help to deal with their suicidality. To posters, their ability to secure a mental health clinician/service (MHC/S) is sometimes perceived as insurmountable as they face engagement adversities. Mental health clinicians/services are the solution, describes the attitudes, perceptions and beliefs posters hold regarding MHC/S roles and responsibilities in keeping those with a lived experience of suicide safe.
Results lend support to two contemporary theories of suicide, the interpersonal theory of suicide (IPTS; Joiner, 2005) and the three-step theory (3ST; Klonsky & May, 2015). Given the inherent social nature of MHC/S engagement, seeking help from professional sources may indicate engagement as a way to increase an individual’s sense of belongingness (Joiner, 2005). As purported by the 3ST, engaging with a MHC/S may be a form of connectedness that may facilitate suicide prevention activities, thus averting the progression of suicidal ideation to action (Klonsky & May, 2015).
|
Statistics for this ePrint Item |
| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Lamont-Mills, Andrea |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jan 2026 06:03 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jan 2026 06:03 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | elp-seeking, mental health clinicians, mental health services, perceptions, suicidality |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5203 Clinical and health psychology > 520304 Health psychology |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53112 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Archive Repository Staff Only |
