Peer Survivors of Suicide Loss: A Phenomenological Study

The ultimate sufferers of suicide are those left behind. The present study aims to explore, describe, and interpret the lived experiences of peer survivors of suicide loss. This study utilized the phenomenological research design. The participants were selected based on their having experienced the phenomenon of being a peer survivor of suicide loss. Ten participants with low resiliency and who were severely distressed volunteered to participate. Individual narrative stories and interviews were utilized to gather the qualitative data for this study. Common themes for the lived experiences of being a peer survivor of suicide loss are: being confused about the reported suicide; being stunned by the suicide; questioning the act of suicide; accepting the truth of the suicide; grieving the loss of a friend; accepting the death of a friend; finding solace from friends; and experiencing growth after the trauma. Forging connections with other peer survivors of suicide loss are part of the healing process. Thus, this study demonstrates the possibility of this connection in providing a basis for school suicide intervention and postvention programs for peer survivors of suicide loss in a supportive environment. There is a scarcity of studies on how suicide loss affects the survivors in the Philippines, specifically on the grief of suicide-bereaved emerging adults, as most studies focus on suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study contributes to the scarce literature on survivors of suicide loss in the country.

Comparing Facilitator Priorities of Suicide Survivor Support Groups

A total of 56 Japanese and 59 American survivor of suicide support group facilitators were asked to rank the mutual aid objectives of their groups following Shulman’s scheme in terms of their frequency and importance. Both American and Japanese facilitators showed an emphasis on personal adaptation goals (such as helping bereaved feel less isolated in their grief or encouraging bereaved to share their coping with loss experiences) over collective goals (such as raising monies for more research on mental illness or trying to combat societal suicide stigma in their local communities). Differences were also noted with American facilitators evaluating helping with problem solving, sharing different ways of coping, viewing personal issues as societal problems, and advocating for promoting social change as significantly higher than the Japanese did. We believe some of these contrasts reflect differences in American and Japanese cultural values.

Who is a survivor of suicide loss? A systematic review

IntroductionDeath by suicide stuns with soul-crushing surprise, leaving family and friends not only grieving the unexpected death, but confused and lost by this haunting loss. The underlying structure of grief for survivors of suicide loss appears complicated.AimsThe purpose of this study consists in reviewing literature data about survivors of suicide, especially exploring the few informations emerged by researches on the role of psychiatrist as “survivor”.MethodsA PubMed search was conducted using combinations of the following keywords: survivors suicide or bereavement suicide or suicide psychiatrists and randomized.The search was conducted through September 10, 2015, and no conference proceedings were included.ResultsBereavement following suicide is complicated by the psychological impact of the act on those close to the victim. It is further complicated by the societal perception that the act of suicide is a failure by the victim and the family to deal with some emotional issue and ultimately society affixes blame for the loss on the survivors. This individual or societal stigma introduces a unique stress on the bereavement process that in some cases requires clinical intervention.ConclusionsSuicide bereavement seems to be different from natural loss. Clinicians may react to a patient's suicide both on a personal and professional level, with emotions such as loss of self-esteem or blame. This grief somehow nullifies the core of a helping relationship and may imply a more conservative management of future patients or even avoiding to accept suicidal patients for treatment. Support interventions have been proposed.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Case Study of a Survivor of Suicide Who Lost All Family Members Through Parent–Child Collective Suicide

Background: South Korea is characterized by a high percentage of parent–child collective suicide. Aims: This case study explores one individual’s personal experience as an adult survivor of suicide who lost his wife and his only son through parent–child collective suicide in South Korea. Method: The study reports data from a semistructured interview, which were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: Two themes were identified through the analysis of the narratives of the survivor. The first theme provides a detailed picture of the survivor’s explanation of why the parent–child collective suicide occurred. The second theme examines how the participant experienced complicated bereavement after his heart-breaking loss of both wife and son. Conclusion: We discuss the importance of support from other people or grief experts for the survivors of suicide who lose family to collective suicide.