Abstract
BACKGROUND: In 2019 the highest absolute number of suicides in Germany was registered in Bavaria, with 1520 cases. Suicide as a cause of death is particularly stressful for relatives and the risk of affected children committing suicide themselves later in life is significantly increased. Early and specific approaches of so-called psychosocial emergency care are professionally indicated after highly stressful life experiences, such as the suicide of a close person. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the cross-sectional study is to assess the services available for families after suicide and attempted suicide of a parent in Bavaria and thus to identify the needs. METHODS: Data on services, the (self)assessment of competences on trauma-specific aspects and the general assessment of the care situation and quality in Bavaria were collected from 108 youth welfare offices and counselling centers by telephone survey and analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Cases of suicide and attempted suicide occur in the counselling and care reality of staff in youth welfare offices and counselling centers. The most frequently mentioned help is referral to other mostly curative services. Of the staff interviewed in counselling centers and youth welfare offices, 80% consider the introduction of a central emergency telephone number for families and professionals to be sensible. CONCLUSION: Professionals see the need for counselling among those affected and want to meet this need in their own institution but do not feel sufficiently empowered to do so due to limited internal and external offers as well as their own qualifications. In most cases, the services to which referrals are made are not specific, suitable, or available at short notice, which is a critical factor in view of the high risk of illness among the children and adolescents concerned. There is a need for immediately accessible specific support for both professionals and affected families, e.g. through an emergency telephone number.