Autolytic Ideation, Family, Minors, and Confinement during the COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is a serious public health problem worldwide. Preventing and addressing suicidal behavior is complicated due to the multiple causes that cause it and the agents involved. Aim. The purpose of this study was to examine and describe qualitatively the effect of confinement due to the COVID‐19 pandemic on minors’ families who presented autolytic ideation. Method. 12 semistructured interviews with minors’ families who attended the Child and Youth Emergency Service of a third level hospital were conducted. Transcripts were analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological approach. Results. The analysis of the experiences of families with younger children with suicide ideation during confinement gave rise to the following four themes: (1) “my family is my strength and my weakness”; (2) “sometimes you have to forget what you feel and remember what you deserve”; (3) “the scars that you cannot see are the ones that hurt the most” and (4) “relearning how to care.” Conclusions. The most significant findings are based on the following six effects of the pandemic: loneliness during confinement, fear of families for minors’ wellbeing, anxiety and generalized fear due to ignorance of the health crisis, concern about maladaptive behaviors (self‐harm), verbalization of death ideas, and difficulties accessing the healthcare system. All these factors have significant implications for developing new health policies and enhancing nursing care from mental health perspective. Future research should investigate the perception of minors and analyze findings by sex.