Exploring the impact of
Exploring the impact of
My name is Amy Trevillion and I am currently conducting a research study exploring the lived experienced of those who lose a parent by suicide during childhood. It is hoped that the findings will provide insight into this traumatic bereavement in order to inform policymakers and ultimately help with the development of future interventions.
Having personally experienced the loss of a close relative by suicide, I am passionate about raising awareness about the lasting impact of such loss. Through this study, I hope to give voice to those who have lost a parent by suicide during their childhood and ultimately create meaningful change for children who experience this type of loss in the future.
The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of losing a parent by suicide during childhood on psychosocial development. I am therefore interested in how the bereavement affected family and peer relationships.
I am inviting adults between the ages of 18 and 35 who lost a parent by suicide during their childhood to take part in the study. I am interested in capturing your views and perceptions of how the bereavement may have impacted your family and peer relationships.
Participants will be asked to attend one interview which will last between 60 and 90 minutes. Interviews will take place either in-person or online. The interviews will be recorded and you will be provided with a written transcript shortly afterwards for approval.
The research study is being undertaken as part of a university doctoral thesis and has been reviewed and approved by the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing Research Ethics Committee of the University of Wolverhampton.
Participants are currently being recruited for this study. It is hoped that all the interviews will be completed by February 2026. After this the data will be analysed and the findings published. It is hoped that the study will be published in 2027.
The study is being supervised by the University of Wolverhampton. The supervisors are:
Dr Danielle McFeeters
Email: mcfeetersd1@wlv.ac.uk
Dr David Boyda
Email: d.boyda@wlv.ac.uk
To take part in the study you must meet the following inclusion criteria:
The benefits of taking part in this study is that you will have the chance to share your experience to help children who lose a parent by suicide in the future. There are currently very few studies which have explored the impact of losing a parent to suicide on surviving children and it is hoped that the knowledge gained from this study will help the development of future interventions.
Also, the latest Suicide Prevention Strategy published by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2023, aims to improve support for people bereaved by suicide and to do this is looking for research to provide personal experience insight into the impact of suicide bereavement on children and young people.