The lived experience of family members of older people who have committed suicide in rural China
Abstract Background: China has the largest older population in the world. With the increasing trend of ageing, the problem of suicide among old people is increasing rapidly, especially in rural areas. The pressures and challenges faced by family members of loved ones who have committed suicide has been studied closely around the world. However, the impact of suicide on the lives of family members have not received enough attention in China. Therefore, it is very important to understand the lived experience of the family members of older people who have committed suicide. The study aims to understand the lived experiences of family members who have experienced their older family member’s suicide in a rural area based in Shaanxi Province, China.Methods: Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used for this study. Semi-structured individual interviews with five family members of older people who have committed suicide recruited from a rural area of Shaanxi Province, China.Results: Three main themes emerged from the study: (a) Initial reactions; (b) Continual effects; (c) Social attitudes.Conclusions: With the development of China’s economic, social and cultural changes, the suicide of the older people in rural China poses a challenge to the future living quality of their family members. It shows that it is necessary to pay attention to families of older people who have committed suicide. It also shows that more support is required to improve the quality of life of families of older people who have committed suicide in rural China.