Suicide and Homicide Bereavement among African Americans: Implications for Survivor Research and Practice

Sharpe, Tanya L.; Joe, Sean; Taylor, Katie C.

doi:10.2190/om.66.2.d

Cited by 29 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Furthermore, the sample of this study was not representative of the United States (U.S.), so the results should not be generalized to the racial landscape of suicide in the U.S. In addition, our list of variables was not a comprehensive list [ 4 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ]. Several relevant constructs, including other risk factors of suicide, were not evaluated.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide Attempts in Michigan HealthCare System; Racial Differences

Assari

2018

Brain Sciences

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Background. Community-based studies have documented racial differences in social, psychiatric, and medical determinants of suicidal ideation; however, less is known about racial differences in the profile of suicide attempts in clinical settings. Aim. The current study aimed to compare Blacks and Whites who attempted suicide for demographic factors, socioeconomic status, medical history, psychiatric disorders, and outcomes. Methods. This retrospective study was a retrospective chart review of DataDirect, which is an electronic data repository of the Michigan Health Care System, 2014 to 2017. This analysis included 6147 suicide attempts (5388 Whites and 759 Blacks). Race, sociodemographic factors, medical history, psychiatric disorders, and outcomes were measured. Results. Blacks and Whites with suicide attempt did not differ in age or gender, but varied by insurance type. Blacks were more commonly under Medicare and Medicaid, while Whites were more commonly under private insurance or self-pay (p < 0.05). Blacks with suicide attempt were more likely to be obese, while Whites with suicide attempt were more likely to be underweight. Frequency of psychiatric disorders, including depression, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and psychosis, were not different between Whites and Blacks with suicide attempt; however, medical conditions showed a different profile across racial groups. When compared to Whites, Blacks had higher prevalence of uncomplicated hypertension, renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coagulopathy, and obesity (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). In contrast, Whites had higher prevalence of other neurological disorders than Blacks. There were no differences in in-patient survival rate between Whites and Blacks who attempted suicide. Conclusion. There are considerable differences between Blacks and Whites with at least one suicide attempt. Although their psychiatric diagnoses seem to be similar, Blacks who have attempted suicide attempt have more medical comorbidities than their White counterparts. Lack of racial disparities in in-patient mortality rate of suicide attempts in the Michigan Health Care System is promising news given the higher physical health needs of Blacks when compared to Whites.

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Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suicide Attempts in Michigan HealthCare System; Racial Differences

Assari

2018

Brain Sciences

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“…Along these lines, future research on provision of such services should also address cultural preferences and differences in reactions/responses to homicide. For example, use of spiritual resources, maintaining connection to the dead, family support and concealment of emotions have been identified as coping strategies of African‐American family members of homicide victims (Sharpe ; Sharpe et al ). Similar research with other ethnic and cultural groups would identify resources and strategies that programmes such as TLRT account for and build upon as they work with families.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lessons learned implementing community‐based comprehensive case management for families surviving homicide

Spilsbury

Phelps

Zatta

et al. 2016

Child & Family Social Work

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Family members of homicide victims often experience a wide range of adverse reactions to the homicide. This study reports on the Traumatic Loss Response Team, a project conducted by a community‐based, mental‐health agency to provide comprehensive case‐management services to meet homicide survivors' complex needs. To conduct the study, we abstracted service/process data from open client cases in 2013 (most recent year with available data) and conducted interviews with the project's implementing agencies. Interviews revealed both initial challenges and factors facilitating successful implementation. Main challenges to overcome included gaining credibility and trust from police and issues around overlap of services provided to families by numerous agencies that may become involved in a homicide. Partners view the project providing a range of important services to families, including intermediary/buffer between families and police. Concerning service data, of the 131 cases open in 2013, most were referred directly by police and involved community violence, an adult victim and a firearm. Most of the 164 clients receiving services were female, adult, African‐American and parents of the deceased. Grief support was the most common of numerous services provided. We hope that this study will catalyse sharing of similar data and experiences among organizations providing services to homicide survivors.

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“…Of particular note is the relative lack of non-White participants; only 13 of the 187 participants, or 7% of the sample, identified as an ethnic or racial minority. Compared with White SOS, little is known about the SOS experience non-White individuals (Sharpe, Joe, & Taylor, 2012) Scholars (Barnes, 2006;Sharpe et al, 2012) have associated the lack of research on Black SOS with the stigmatization of suicide in Black communities. Sharpe et al (2012) argued that this stigma is a significant factor in Black SOS survivors' feelings that suicide support services are unhelpful.…”

Section: Sample Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Compared with White SOS, little is known about the SOS experience non-White individuals (Sharpe, Joe, & Taylor, 2012) Scholars (Barnes, 2006;Sharpe et al, 2012) have associated the lack of research on Black SOS with the stigmatization of suicide in Black communities. Sharpe et al (2012) argued that this stigma is a significant factor in Black SOS survivors' feelings that suicide support services are unhelpful. Ultimately, explaining the general lack of ethnic minorities in this and other SOS studies is beyond the scope of the current study and should be the focus for future research.…”

Section: Sample Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prominent Feelings and Self-Regard Among Survivors of Suicide

Rabalais

Wilks

Geiger

et al. 2016

Illness, Crisis & Loss

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This cross-sectional study explores associations between elapsed time since the loss and outcomes of main feelings surrounding the loss and self-regard among 187 helpseeking survivors bereaved by suicide. Chi-square tests were conducted to examine the aforementioned relationships. In examining suicide survivors' main feelings over time, this study found mixed results in early bereavement. This study showed that at 25 to 59 months of elapsed time since the loss, both fear and happiness were significant for suicide survivors. No significance was found before 25 to 59 months, suggesting a change in suicide survivors' main emotions following 2 years of elapsed time since the loss. In later bereavement (i.e., 5 + years), suicide survivors' experiences of happiness was significant. The aforementioned results suggest that following 2 years of elapsed time since the loss, this sample of survivors bereaved by suicide experienced a change in their grief experience.

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Suicide and Homicide Bereavement among African Americans: Implications for Survivor Research and Practice

Cited by 29 publications

References 30 publications

Suicide Attempts in Michigan HealthCare System; Racial Differences

Suicide Attempts in Michigan HealthCare System; Racial Differences

Lessons learned implementing community‐based comprehensive case management for families surviving homicide

Prominent Feelings and Self-Regard Among Survivors of Suicide

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