Call for Traveller-focused training to improve suicide prevention and crisis care

While Traveller women are known to be at an increased suicide risk compared with women in the settled community, 'little is understood about their experiences with healthcare during suicidal crisis'. Stock picture

Healthcare workers should receive cultural competency training to help improve suicide prevention and crisis care for Traveller patients, according to a new study.

It also recommended the development of an app co-designed by mental health professionals and members of the Traveller community to support Travellers presenting to emergency departments with mental health difficulties, including suicidal ideation.

The research states: “This is especially relevant given the ongoing international interest in apps for racial minorities and the need to address patient isolation and the absence of significant others.” 

It highlighted that while Traveller women are known to be at an increased suicide risk compared with women in the settled community, “little is understood about their experiences with healthcare during suicidal crisis”.

The study, Speaking Through Crisis, highlighted the experiences of two women from the Traveller community who presented at emergency departments during suicidal crises.

They both had histories of mental health issues including self-harm, and had experienced suicidal ideation. The women highlighted relationships with others, including family members, as being “significant” in their understanding as to why they experienced “suicidal behaviours”.

The research states: “While participants did not explicitly frame their distress in cultural terms, their narratives reflect how relational rupture, conflict, and loss were experienced not merely as interpersonal difficulties but as destabilising events that impacted their sense of self and place, within their familial networks.” 

The two women said they felt a “loss of personal autonomy” in decision-making when accessing and engaging in treatment.

The study called for future research to “continue to prioritise the voices of Traveller communities in suicide prevention research and explore how culturally safe, co-designed mental health services can improve engagement and outcomes for Traveller people experiencing suicidal crisis".

Speaking Through Crisis was undertaken by  James O’Mahony of UCC’s school of nursing and midwifery; Leah Quinlivan of the Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration; Joe Tighe from the Bilibio Psychology Clinic in New South Wales; Isabela Troya of the National Suicide Research Foundation in Cork, and Katerina Kavalidou from the HSE’s National Clinical Programme for self-harm and suicide-related ideation.