Help-seeking experiences of young people of culturally and/or linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds following suicidal thoughts and behaviours in Melbourne, Australia: a qualitative approach

Objectives To understand the help-seeking experiences of young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds who have experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB).Design Qualitative study using semistructured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis.Setting A specialis...

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Main Authors: Katrina Witt, Michelle Lamblin, Jo Robinson, Hannah Richards, Dzenana Kartal, Gowri Rajaram, Kerry L Gibson, Pemma Davies
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-04-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/4/e093859.full
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author Katrina Witt
Michelle Lamblin
Jo Robinson
Hannah Richards
Dzenana Kartal
Gowri Rajaram
Kerry L Gibson
Pemma Davies
author_facet Katrina Witt
Michelle Lamblin
Jo Robinson
Hannah Richards
Dzenana Kartal
Gowri Rajaram
Kerry L Gibson
Pemma Davies
author_sort Katrina Witt
collection DOAJ
description Objectives To understand the help-seeking experiences of young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds who have experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB).Design Qualitative study using semistructured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis.Setting A specialist, youth-focused Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement (HOPE) aftercare service delivered by Orygen in North-West Melbourne, Australia.Participants Eight young people aged 16–24 years (mean: 18.7±3.1 years, 50% female) from various CALD backgrounds who had been discharged from the HOPE aftercare service within the past 12 months.Results Four themes were identified: (1) cultural taboos and generational differences create challenges in communicating with family; (2) isolation is a barrier to reaching out; (3) it’s hard to disclose and discuss STB with clinicians and (4) not being taken seriously in clinical settings.Conclusion These findings highlight social, cultural and organisational barriers that shape the help-seeking journeys of young people from CALD backgrounds experiencing STB. Results suggest a need for culturally sensitive suicide prevention strategies, enhanced cultural competency in healthcare settings and efforts to improve mental health literacy within CALD communities.
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spelling doaj-art-9962a7dd098d43818501f7598ffb48772025-08-20T03:07:32ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-04-0115410.1136/bmjopen-2024-093859Help-seeking experiences of young people of culturally and/or linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds following suicidal thoughts and behaviours in Melbourne, Australia: a qualitative approachKatrina Witt0Michelle Lamblin1Jo Robinson2Hannah Richards3Dzenana Kartal4Gowri Rajaram5Kerry L Gibson6Pemma Davies7Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaOrygen, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaOrygen, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaOrygen, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaThe University of Melbourne Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaOrygen, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaUniversity of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandOrygen, Parkville, Victoria, AustraliaObjectives To understand the help-seeking experiences of young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds who have experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB).Design Qualitative study using semistructured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis.Setting A specialist, youth-focused Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement (HOPE) aftercare service delivered by Orygen in North-West Melbourne, Australia.Participants Eight young people aged 16–24 years (mean: 18.7±3.1 years, 50% female) from various CALD backgrounds who had been discharged from the HOPE aftercare service within the past 12 months.Results Four themes were identified: (1) cultural taboos and generational differences create challenges in communicating with family; (2) isolation is a barrier to reaching out; (3) it’s hard to disclose and discuss STB with clinicians and (4) not being taken seriously in clinical settings.Conclusion These findings highlight social, cultural and organisational barriers that shape the help-seeking journeys of young people from CALD backgrounds experiencing STB. Results suggest a need for culturally sensitive suicide prevention strategies, enhanced cultural competency in healthcare settings and efforts to improve mental health literacy within CALD communities.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/4/e093859.full
spellingShingle Katrina Witt
Michelle Lamblin
Jo Robinson
Hannah Richards
Dzenana Kartal
Gowri Rajaram
Kerry L Gibson
Pemma Davies
Help-seeking experiences of young people of culturally and/or linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds following suicidal thoughts and behaviours in Melbourne, Australia: a qualitative approach
BMJ Open
title Help-seeking experiences of young people of culturally and/or linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds following suicidal thoughts and behaviours in Melbourne, Australia: a qualitative approach
title_full Help-seeking experiences of young people of culturally and/or linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds following suicidal thoughts and behaviours in Melbourne, Australia: a qualitative approach
title_fullStr Help-seeking experiences of young people of culturally and/or linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds following suicidal thoughts and behaviours in Melbourne, Australia: a qualitative approach
title_full_unstemmed Help-seeking experiences of young people of culturally and/or linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds following suicidal thoughts and behaviours in Melbourne, Australia: a qualitative approach
title_short Help-seeking experiences of young people of culturally and/or linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds following suicidal thoughts and behaviours in Melbourne, Australia: a qualitative approach
title_sort help seeking experiences of young people of culturally and or linguistically diverse cald backgrounds following suicidal thoughts and behaviours in melbourne australia a qualitative approach
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/4/e093859.full
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