To explore the experience and needs of family members when a person has expressed suicide ideation following treatment for head and neck cancer: A qualitative study

In the United Kingdom (UK) there were over 7000 deaths by suicide in 2023, representing a 7% increase from the previous year and the highest rate since 1999 (ONS, 2025). The risk of death by suicide and suicide ideation has been identified as up to four times greater in people with a cancer diagnosis than those of the general population (Zaorsky et al., 2019). The suicide risk among head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors is double of that compared to other cancer populations (Jimenezâ€Labaig et al., 2024, Twigg et al 2020). Treatment for HNC is complex, whereby individuals often undergo multi-modality therapy, combining surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, resulting in challenging symptoms and persisting adverse treatment effects (Mody et al., 2021).