Lived Experiences of Suicide Bereavement within Families : A Qualitative Study
by Clémence Creuzé 1, Laurène Lestienne 1, Maxime Vieux 1, Benoit Chalancon 1,
Emmanuel Poulet
1,2,3 and Edouard Leaune
1,2,*1 Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, 95 Boulevard Pinel, 69678 Bron, France
2 INSERM, U1028, CNRS, UMR 5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, PSYR2 Team, 69000 Lyon, France
3 Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69002 Lyon, France
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Academic Editor: Paul B. Tchounwou
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13070; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013070
(This article belongs to the Section Mental Health)
Backround: The lifetime prevalence of suicide exposure in the family is
estimated at 3.8% in the general population. Familial bonds can
constitute a crucial factor in determining individual bereavement
outcomes via the interactional and communicational aspects of the
bereavement process within the family. However, the literature on the
lived experiences of suicide bereavement within the family remains
scarce. Method: Our objectives were to qualitatively (a) assess the
impact of suicide on different types of family members, (b) evaluate the
interactions between the familial and individual bereavement processes,
and (c) obtain precise insights into the familial interactions that
occur following a suicide. We performed a qualitative study by
conducting semidirected interviews with family members who had been
bereaved by suicide. Computer-based and manual thematic analyses were
used for data analysis. In order to mitigate biases related to the
qualitative design of the data collection, two main measures were
undertaken, namely triangulation and saturation. Results: Sixteen family
members bereaved by suicide participated in our study, including a
majority of women (n = 12). Mean age of
participants was 56.4 and mean duration of suicide bereavement was 10.5
years. Most of the relatives deceased by suicide were middle-aged men
who died by hanging or firearm. A total of six themes emerged from the
analyses, namely (1) “familial trauma”, (2) “external adversity”, (3)
“individual bereavement and familial interactions”, (4) “communicational
and relational processes within the family”, (5) “perceived help and
support within the family” and (6) “evolution over time”. Conclusion: We
reported that suicide bereavement significantly impacts internal
familial interactions via complex emotional and communication processes.
Family conflicts, taboos or cohesion can occur in the aftermath of a
suicide. We also found that familial coping strategies can shape
individual reactions to the death on the part of each member of the
family.
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Keywords:
suicide; bereavement; family; lived experiences; qualitative