Survivors of a Family Member??s Suicide

Do They Suffer More? Reflections on Research Comparing Suicide Survivors to Other Survivors

“…Survivors suffered from existential struggles, a lack of understanding from their support network and a tendency to blame someone other than the victim for the death. Van Dongen (1991) also found that survivors experience profound turmoil, affecting the individual at the existential, emotional, social, and cognitive levels.…”

Grief as a transformative experience: Weaving through different lifeworlds after a loved one has completed suicide

“…While the findings of Van Dongen (1990, 1991a, 1991b, 1993) and Demi and Howell's (1991) research add to understandings of bereavement post suicide, all studies are over 10 years old and differences in the findings are likely to be a result of demographic differences between study groups. Moreover the experiences of those bereaved through suicide in the New Zealand context cannot be gleaned from these studies.…”

“…Van Dongen (1990, 1991a, 1991b, 1993) used a mixed grounded theory/quantitative approach to explore the social relationships and perceived social support of 35 adults whose family members had completed suicide. Findings revealed the core variable agonizing questioning (Van Dongen 1990; p. 225; 1991b; p. 32) with associated variables of emotional turmoil, cognitive dissonance (Van Dongen 1990; p. 226; 1991b; p. 32) physical disturbances and survival strategies (Van Dongen 1990; p. 227; 1991b; p. 34).…”

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

“…11,12 It is not clear what interventions are effective because evidence is currently limited 13 but it is suggested that specialist bereavement counselling can be useful for those actively seeking it.…”

“…11,12,32 There is a residual stigma surrounding suicide alluded to by both the avoidance of healthseeking behaviour in families post-suicide and the avoidance of use of the word suicide by GPs. 33 GPs described parental reactions to suicide that were similar to those described in the literature, including anger, guilt, and questioning of meaning.…”