Suicide bereavement in the UK: Descriptive findings from a national survey. Issue 5 (25th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McDonnell, Sharon; Flynn, Sandra; Shaw, Jenny; Smith, Shirley; McGale, Barry; Hunt, Isabelle M.
• Is Part Of: Suicide and life-threatening behavior. Volume 52:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 887
• Page End: 897
• Publication Date: 2022-05-25
• Subjects: bereavement -- grief -- online survey -- postvention -- suicide -- support services; Suicide -- Periodicals; Suicide -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Suicide -- Periodicals; 362.28
• DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12874
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-0234

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Those bereaved by suicide are a high‐risk group of adverse health outcomes and suicidal behavior, yet little is known about the experiences and support needs of these individuals in the UK. Methods: We conducted a national cross‐sectional study using an online survey and analyzed the experiences of 7158 participants who had been bereaved or affected by suicide. Results: Suicide had a major impact on 77% of participants, including those who had lost a friend and those exposed to suicide at a professional level. Mental and physical health problems linked to the suicide were reported in half. Adverse social outcomes and engaging in high‐risk behaviors following the suicide were common. Over a third reported suicidal ideation and 8% had attempted suicide as a direct result of the suicide loss. Most had not accessed support services, with the majority viewing provision of local suicide bereavement support as inadequate. Conclusions: Our results highlight the need for a multi‐disciplinary approach in postvention and the provision of proactive outreach to support those bereaved by suicide. Postvention efforts need to acknowledge the death of a friend by suicide as a significant loss.