The Department of Human Development and Family Science at North Dakota State University is seeking participants for a study on how young adults are affected by the loss of a friend or close peer due to suicide.

“The peer suicide bereavement research study is designed to learn from young adults who are willing to share their experiences of loss due to a friend or close peer’s suicide,” says Sean Brotherson, NDSU Extension Service family science specialist.

Men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 will be asked to participate in interviews of one to two hours as part of the study. Also, the friend or peer who died by suicide needs to have been between the ages of 17 and 25 at the time of death. The event must have occurred at least one year ago but no more than 10 years ago.

This study is intended to broaden the understanding of the importance of friends and peers when suicide occurs and the experiences of emerging adults grieving the loss of a friend or peer to suicide.

Participants will be asked how the suicide affected them and if they have shared those experiences with others.

“Participants also will be asked what resources or other support were important to them and if the experience has influenced their relationships with others,” Brotherson says.

To learn more, contact Sarah Busse at (920) 588-7401 or sarah.busse@ndsu.edu. Brotherson can be reached at (701) 231-6143 or sean.brotherson@ndsu.edu.

Participation is voluntary and all information collected will be kept strictly confidential.

If you have questions about the rights of research participants, contact the NDSU Institutional Review Board office at (701) 231-8908.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Sept. 8, 2014