Effects of suicide bereavement on mental health and suicide risk

GPs’ experiences of dealing with parents bereaved by suicide: a qualitative study

“…15 Consequently, individuals are reliant on their GP or third-sector services for appropriate care at a time of intense need and high risk, 15 even though 'adverse' outcomes are often within the remit of psychiatric services. 6 Parents bereaved by suicide may less frequently access care compared with other bereaved parents. Health professionals should be aware of the potential vulnerabilities of the bereaved, and be proactive in approaching these patients because many report not receiving any contact from health professionals following their child's death.…”

“…It is estimated that every suicide can affect up to 50 people, 5 leaving them at risk of suicide themselves as well as psychosomatic, mental, and physical illness. 6 Although a patient suicide is considered a rare event, considering the numbers in the UK (>6000) who die by suicide and the number affected, with the risk that those impacted by suicide might also die by suicide, it is highly likely that GPs will come into contact with those bereaved by suicide. GPs need to be in a position to recognise the needs of those bereaved by suicide and the need to look after themselves.…”

Support for Relatives Bereaved by Psychiatric Patient Suicide: National Confidential Inquiry Into Suicide and Homicide Findings

“…These and other shared familial and environmental risk factors for mental illness and suicidal behavior (35,36), together with the additional risk conferred by suicide bereavement (4,5), identifies this group of relatives as being at higher risk of suicidal behavior. Their helpseeking behavior is likely to have been conditioned by the stigma associated with their relative's mental illness (37) and further influenced by the stigma of suicide (6-9).…”

“…Approximately 6,000 people die by suicide in the United Kingdom annually (1), with each suicide estimated to affect six (2) to 60 (3) friends and relatives. These reports suggest that the annual incidence of persons who are bereaved by suicide in the United Kingdom is between 36,000 and 360,000. International studies comparing health outcomes after various types of bereavement show that people bereaved by suicide have an increased risk of suicide and psychiatric admission (4). In Britain, people bereaved by suicide, regardless of whether they are related to the deceased by blood, have an increased risk of suicide attempt and poor occupational functioning (5) and significantly higher stigma, shame, responsibility, and guilt scores (6) compared with people bereaved by other causes of sudden death.…”

“…In the case of these patients, NHS guidelines recommend that clinical teams offer families and carers "prompt and open information" and "appropriate and effective support" and involve them in a routine postsuicide review (16). No previous studies have explored the extent to which relatives are offered such support, despite growing evidence describing the vulnerabilities of persons bereaved by suicide (4,5). Psychiatric services that involve family members in postsuicide multidisciplinary reviews have shown local reductions in suicide rates, suggesting systemic benefits (17).…”