The Impact of Suicide on the Family

Abstract

Little research has examined the consequences of a suicide for social or family networks. Because suicide occurs within families, the focus on the aftermath of suicide within families is an important next step to determine exactly how to help survivors. In this article, we review and summarize the research on the impact of suicide on individuals within families and on family and social networks. We begin with a discussion of family changes following suicide. Next, we discuss the effects of suicide on social networks overall and responses of children and the elderly to a suicide in the family. Finally, we identify key issues that remain to be resolved in family survivor research and make recommendations for future studies.

Compreendendo narrativas sobre suicídio com base na analítica existencial de Martin Heidegger

“…A patologização do suicídio, observa Dutra (2010), reforça estigmas e preconceito contra quem o pratica e protege do mal-estar de pensar que o suicídio pode, sim, ser pensado como uma alternativa viável para a vida e resultar de uma decisão racional. Adotando uma visão ampliada de saúde, Dutra (2010) (Cerel, Jordan & Duberstein, 2008). Aqueles que perdem um parente ou amigo devido ao suicídio são chamados "sobreviventes" e estão sujeitos a considerável sofrimento, problemas mentais e mesmo tentativas de suicídio (Cerel, Jordan & Duberstein, 2008).…”

“…Adotando uma visão ampliada de saúde, Dutra (2010) (Cerel, Jordan & Duberstein, 2008). Aqueles que perdem um parente ou amigo devido ao suicídio são chamados "sobreviventes" e estão sujeitos a considerável sofrimento, problemas mentais e mesmo tentativas de suicídio (Cerel, Jordan & Duberstein, 2008).…”

To mourn and resist stigma: Narration, meaning-making and self-formation after a parent’s suicide

“…The climate of communication within the family has been identified as particularly important, but at the same time communication problems and other dysfunctions often dominate the life situation preceding suicide, and young suicide mourners often experience other traumatic events and rejections before the suicide (Cerel et al 2008). This complicates supportive interactions after the suicide.…”

“…However, even in families with an open climate of communication before the suicide, distortions in communication may occur as a result of the remaining parent's efforts to hide information about the suicide, including denying, evading and fabricating facts about the event (Cerel et al 2008;Loy and Boelk 2014), which commonly causes feelings of betrayal and mistrust in the child when s/he is faced with the true circumstances of the death (Hung and Rabin 2009). Such a culture of family secrecy, which is initiated particularly in relation to younger children (Hung and Rabin 2009;Schofield 2007, Shepherd andBarraclough 1976), has been found to continue even into the third generation (Cain 2006).…”

“…This notwithstanding the knowledge that suicide-bereaved children and youths need emotional support and meaning-making dialogues in order to construct memories of the deceased parent and an understanding of the suicide that relieve them of self-imposed responsibility, and that the remaining parent's lack of resources due to their own grief, feelings of stigma or mental health issues often contributes to such needs being overlooked (Hung and Rabin 2009;Jordan 2001). In fact, family interaction has often proved to be negatively affected and turned into a restrained or distorted communication -or an 'atmosphere of secrecy' -intended to protect the children, which instead results in a lack of information and inadequate support (Cerel, Jordan and Duberstein 2008;Hung and Rabin 2009, p. 795;Loy and Boelk 2014). Even open disagreements and accusations about who is to blame for the suicide can sometimes dominate the family interaction (Loy and Boelk 2014).…”