Emotional Distress Among Suicide Survivors: The Moderating Role of Self-Forgiveness

Abstract

Grief after suicide entails unique challenges and difficulties, such as intense feelings of anger and guilt, as well as various psychological risks. The current study examined the contribution of self-forgiveness (SF) to emotional distress (e.g., depressed mood and suicidal ideation) among suicide-loss survivors, compared with bereavement following sudden and expected death types. Bereaved individuals (N = 309; aged 18-84) completed questionnaires measuring SF, depressed mood, suicidal ideation, demographics, and personal characteristics concerning the bereavement. A significant interaction between SF and type of loss was found, in which suicide-loss survivors with low levels of SF manifested the highest levels of depression and suicidal ideation compared with other subgroups. The findings reflect the importance of SF as a protective factor against depression and suicidality among suicide-loss survivors as well as the possible efficacy of forgiveness-based interventions in this population.

Pulling Together – The Protective Role of Belongingness for Depression, Suicidal Ideation and Behavior Among Suicide-Bereaved Individuals

“…Oexle et al (2020) found that the perceived stigma of suicide comprised a significant factor leading to grief difficulties and suicide ideation. Levi-Belz and Gilo (2020), for example, found that self-forgiveness can act as a moderator that lessens intense depression and suicide ideation among individuals bereaved by suicide compared with individuals bereaved by other, nonsuicide deaths. Scharer and Hibberd (2019) found that perception of meaning in life may be associated with levels of depression among individuals bereaved by suicide, so that individuals having high levels of meaning in life were less likely to have from depression than those having low levels of meaning.…”

“…It has been well-established, from both research and clinical practice, that individuals bereaved by suicide may experience prolonged feelings of guilt, self-blame, shame, anger, and self-doubt about what they could or should have done prior to the death to prevent it (Cerel et al, 2008; Feigelman & Cerel, 2020; Jordan, 2001). These emotions make them more prone to psychopathologies, such as complicated grief (Levi-Belz & Lev-Ari, 2019a), depression, and suicidal ideation and attempts (Jordan & McIntosh, 2011; Levi-Belz & Gilo, 2020; Young et al, 2012). Notably, however, only few studies have addressed the characteristics that may moderate the negative effect of a significant other's suicide on the bereaved individual's distress and mental health problems (e.g., Lev-Ari & Levi-Belz, 2019; Levi-Belz & Gilo, 2020; Levi-Belz & Lev-Ari, 2019a; Scharer & Hibberd, 2019).…”

“Turning personal tragedy into triumph”: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on posttraumatic growth among suicide-loss survivors.

“…To date, the research literature on suicide bereavement has typically focused on the psychopathology associated with the loss, for example, in the context of U.S. or Australian samples (Kõlves & De Leo, 2018; Maple et al, 2018). Suicide-loss survivors have been shown to experience higher levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation and attempts (Cerel et al, 2017; Levi-Belz & Gilo, 2020; Maple et al, 2018; Pitman et al, 2014) relative to the nonexposed population. Evidence has also suggested that suicide-loss survivors may be at higher risk than individuals bereaved by the nonsuicide sudden death of a close person for a variety of psychological problems, including complicated grief and suicidal behavior (Andriessen, Krysinska, et al, 2017; Pitman et al, 2014).…”

A Narrative Evaluation of a Grief Support Camp for Families Affected by a Parent's Suicide

“…It also has the potential to combat stigma and contribute to reconciliation in relationships, including with the deceased, restored identities and even post-traumatic growth ( 36 , 37 ). The above meaning reconstruction has health benefits too, since feelings of blameworthiness have been associated with grief difficulties, complicated grief, PTSD, depression and other mental health difficulties ( 38 ), while the role of self-forgiveness in suicide bereavement has been linked to a decrease in depression and suicidality among suicide loss survivors ( 39 ). In addition, the results show that even very young children, can benefit from being included in family communication on and meaning reconstruction of the parent's suicide ( 40 ).…”