Involving Young People With Lived and Living Experience of Suicide in Suicide Research

• Published in: Crisis : the journal of crisis intervention and suicide prevention
• Main Authors: Webb, Marianne, Cooper, Charlie, Hemming, Laura, Dalton, Alex, Unity, Emily, Simmons, Magenta B, Bendall, Sarah, Robinson, Jo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada 01.07.2024
• Subjects: research involvement; guidelines; lived and living experience; young people; suicide
• ISSN: 2151-2396
• DOI: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000938

Research into youth suicide prevention rarely involves young people with lived and living experiences as collaborators. Key barriers include a lack of guidelines or frameworks to inform collaboration, appropriate ethical approval processes, perceived risk, and recruitment. To develop guidelines for involving young people with lived and living experiences in suicide research as collaborators. A Delphi expert consensus study was conducted with two expert panels: a youth lived and living experiences panel and a traditionally qualified researcher panel. Items rated as or using a five-point Likert scale by more than 80% of both panels were included in the guidelines. Forty-nine experts completed two consensus rounds. The guidelines are organized as follows: (1) preparation, (2) supporting safety and well-being, (3) evaluating involvement, and (4) tips for young people. Participants were from English-speaking, Western countries only. These world-first guidelines address the unique challenges and opportunities for involving young people with lived and living experiences in suicide research.