Live-Chat Support for People Bereaved by Suicide

Abstract

Abstract. Background: People bereaved by suicide often face isolation, complicated grief, and increased suicide risk. Aims: We aimed to explore how live-chat can support survivors in their bereavement process. Method: A thematic analysis was carried out on 30 live-chat conversations through the software ATLAS.ti8. Transcripts were retrieved from a major Italian association providing online support. The users had different ages (18–60 years), degrees of kinship with the deceased (blood-related and not), and time distance from the loss (between 48 hr and 10 years). Results: Five themes were identified: meaning-making, reactions to the loss, resources, needs, and interactions with the operator. Survivors used the live-chat as a safe space in which to disclose nonsocially desirable details and to make sense of suicide through the reconstruction of events and the deceased's motivations. Given the limited social resources and the dissatisfaction with the available formal support, users resorted to justification, rationalization, or faith and found support and reassurance in the live chats. Limitations: Some conversations were fragmented and lacked detailed information on the users. Conclusion: Because of their anonymity and accessibility, live-chats represent a valid first-line form of support, from which survivors may obtain useful information and start a meaning-making process.

Uncertainty, shock and anger: Recent loss experiences of first‐wave COVID‐19 pandemic in Italy

“…Most of the respondents did not show interest in seeking traditional psychotherapy close to their loss but could be looking for support to process emotions. Timely, short‐term and easily accessible means such as live‐chats or online groups may be useful to offer initial emotional buffer and to lay the groundwork for the request of a professional support, by offering a place where to break the silence around death (Miles & Corr, 2017 ) and also by providing the information needed to access it (Cipolletta et al, 2021 ). These interventions might represent a first step or an adjunct to face‐to‐face interventions aimed at legitimizing emotions while also promoting self‐efficacy and avoid social withdrawal (Lissoni et al, 2020 ) and fostering meaning‐making.…”

“…A traumatic death is a death occurred in a sudden, violent or unexpected condition, such as in suicides, homicides and natural disasters (Kristensen, Weisæth, & Heir, 2012 ). The literature has outlined how the traumatic circumstances of a loved one's death may negatively impact the bereavement process (Cipolletta, Entilli, Bettio, & De Leo, 2021 ; Kristensen et al, 2012 ; Neimeyer & Burke, 2017 ): reactions to traumatic deaths usually involve rumination, avoidance, an intense yearning to be with the loved one and, most of all, difficulty to accept the loss (Howarth, 2011 ).…”

Older People’s Lived Perspectives of Social Isolation during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

“…New and traditional technologies (i.e., telephones, smartphones, computers) could be used to provide social support and increase their sense of belonging [25][26][27]. Moreover, psychological counselling and therapy could be delivered online [28,29].…”

Use of Health Services and Support Resources by Immediate Family Members Bereaved by Suicide: A Scoping Review

“…Figure 2 shows the key characteristics of the included studies. Of the 63 original articles included in the review, 24 studies were classified by method as quantitative [ 21 , 22 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ], 29 as qualitative [ 14 , 15 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 ,…”