Dealing with the directive to restrict access to lethal means: parents’ perspectives
Background Youth suicidal ideation and behaviour are major significant concerns, with suicide being the third leading cause of death among youth. In recent years, the trend toward deinstitutionalisation has caused parents of high-risk youth to face increasing emotional and practical challenges, in...
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| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Open |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205647242510046X/type/journal_article |
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| author | Or Cohen Ben Simon Yari Gvion Shimrit Daches |
| author_facet | Or Cohen Ben Simon Yari Gvion Shimrit Daches |
| author_sort | Or Cohen Ben Simon |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Background
Youth suicidal ideation and behaviour are major significant concerns, with suicide being the third leading cause of death among youth. In recent years, the trend toward deinstitutionalisation has caused parents of high-risk youth to face increasing emotional and practical challenges, including managing lethal means restriction (LMR) to reduce suicide risk.
Aims
This qualitative study explores the experiences of parents instructed by mental health professionals to restrict their child’s access to lethal means in managing suicidal behaviours.
Method
Twelve Israeli parents of youth aged 12–21 years participated in in-depth interviews. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study investigated the emotional, psychological and relational challenges parents face when implementing LMR.
Results
Findings indicate that parents struggle to understand and implement LMR guidance, experience emotional strain from their role as protectors, and face pervasive anxiety about their child’s safety. The study also highlights feelings of helplessness and the erosion of trust between parents and children. Many parents criticise LMR, viewing it as potentially harmful to their relationship with their child or ineffective at keeping their child safe.
Conclusions
This study underscores the emotional and practical challenges parents face when implementing LMR. To improve its effectiveness, guidance should be re-evaluated and communicated more flexibly, emphasising shared responsibility between the parent and child, and address the emotional toll on parents during this critical period.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ab8b316454c8417cac0aa50cc1941bdd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2056-4724 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-ab8b316454c8417cac0aa50cc1941bdd2025-08-20T03:27:40ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242025-07-011110.1192/bjo.2025.10046Dealing with the directive to restrict access to lethal means: parents’ perspectivesOr Cohen Ben Simon0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3261-6574Yari Gvion1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1269-6415Shimrit Daches2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8328-4699Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, IsraelDepartment of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, IsraelDepartment of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel Background Youth suicidal ideation and behaviour are major significant concerns, with suicide being the third leading cause of death among youth. In recent years, the trend toward deinstitutionalisation has caused parents of high-risk youth to face increasing emotional and practical challenges, including managing lethal means restriction (LMR) to reduce suicide risk. Aims This qualitative study explores the experiences of parents instructed by mental health professionals to restrict their child’s access to lethal means in managing suicidal behaviours. Method Twelve Israeli parents of youth aged 12–21 years participated in in-depth interviews. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study investigated the emotional, psychological and relational challenges parents face when implementing LMR. Results Findings indicate that parents struggle to understand and implement LMR guidance, experience emotional strain from their role as protectors, and face pervasive anxiety about their child’s safety. The study also highlights feelings of helplessness and the erosion of trust between parents and children. Many parents criticise LMR, viewing it as potentially harmful to their relationship with their child or ineffective at keeping their child safe. Conclusions This study underscores the emotional and practical challenges parents face when implementing LMR. To improve its effectiveness, guidance should be re-evaluated and communicated more flexibly, emphasising shared responsibility between the parent and child, and address the emotional toll on parents during this critical period. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205647242510046X/type/journal_articleSuicidal behaviourlethal meansparentyouth |
| spellingShingle | Or Cohen Ben Simon Yari Gvion Shimrit Daches Dealing with the directive to restrict access to lethal means: parents’ perspectives BJPsych Open Suicidal behaviour lethal means parent youth |
| title | Dealing with the directive to restrict access to lethal means: parents’ perspectives |
| title_full | Dealing with the directive to restrict access to lethal means: parents’ perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Dealing with the directive to restrict access to lethal means: parents’ perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dealing with the directive to restrict access to lethal means: parents’ perspectives |
| title_short | Dealing with the directive to restrict access to lethal means: parents’ perspectives |
| title_sort | dealing with the directive to restrict access to lethal means parents perspectives |
| topic | Suicidal behaviour lethal means parent youth |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205647242510046X/type/journal_article |
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