Lack of Trust in the Health-Care System After Losing a Child to Suicide: A Nationwide Population Survey

Background: Lack of trust in the health-care system after losing a child to suicide may prevent bereaved parents from seeking professional treatment when needed, thus diminishing their chances of recovery. Aims: This is the first large study to aim at evaluating the incidence of lack of trust in the health-care system and associated variables in suicide-bereaved parents. Method: This nationwide population-based survey included 569 parents who lost a child to suicide 2-5 years earlier and a matched comparison group of 326 nonbereaved parents. Using a study-specific questionnaire, we asked bereaved and nonbereaved parents if they trusted the health-care system and measured psychological and background variables. Results: Prevalence of lack of trust in the health-care system differed between the bereaved (46.5%) and the nonbereaved parents (18.3%), giving a relative risk of 2.5 (95% CI = 2.0-3.3). After multivariable modeling, high scores of depression, living in big cities, and being single were identified as variables associated with lack of trust in suicide-bereaved parents. Conclusion: Suicide-bereaved parents show lack of trust in the health-care system. We present possible effect modifiers that may be considered in professional interventions aiming at influencing suicide-bereaved parents' level of trust.