Those left behind after the suicide of a loved one often experience complex grief that can involve feelings of self-blame, abandonment and rejection. The stigma surrounding suicide can also underly rejection by their community, further increasing the psychological burden that survivors face. Understanding the challenges of suicide loss survivors, and identifying the most effective ways to support them, is important in helping survivors to heal and move forward with their lives. Towards this aim, Dorothy Goulah-Pabst from California State University Northridge conducted a study to learn more about the experiences of suicide loss survivors. Read More
She contacted a survivor support group in the Los Angeles area and asked for volunteers to participate in the study. Fourteen people agreed to participate, and underwent in-depth interviews investigating the effect of the suicide on their social life, navigating stigmas and the most effective coping strategies.
In terms of social interactions after losing a loved one through suicide, the respondents fell into three different categories. Some retreated from their social group, feeling that they did not have enough emotional energy to engage with others, or because discussing the suicide was emotionally painful. Other survivors were determined to carry on as before, often quickly returning to work after the bereavement. Others reported a desire to ‘stay strong’, sometimes to help other family members to process their grief.
The participants also answered questions about navigating stigma as a suicide loss survivor. Some experienced a significant drop in their self-worth, identifying their loved one’s suicide as a negative reflection on themselves. The stigma around suicide also caused some respondents to avoid telling others the cause their loved one’s death, and others were perturbed by local gossip about their loved one following the suicide.
Many respondents reported that they lost friendships and that some of their social bonds became frayed after the suicide. Certain friends were uncomfortable with the topic of suicide and avoided the respondents.
Goulah-Pabst also asked the respondents about their coping strategies. Many were very positive about the effects of private therapy in helping them to process the event, and some also found solace in their religious communities. Getting back to work and feeling social solidarity as a result was also helpful for some.
The respondents reported that joining a support group for suicide loss survivors was one of the most effective coping strategies. As everyone in the group had suffered a similar bereavement, there was a sense of acceptance, understanding and solidarity that was a particularly powerful source of healing.
The study reveals that the stigma and discomfort around suicide can affect a survivor’s ability to access social support, but acceptance and inclusion can be found in survivors’ support groups.
