Publication Date

2017

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Study Type

Qualitative

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Suicide victims-Family relationships, Suicide-Psychological aspects, Bereavement-Psychological aspects, Grief therapy, Death-Psychological aspects, Self-help groups, Survivors of suicide, Support, Support groups, Stigma

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to identify forms of support available to and utilized by survivors of suicide, to identify barriers to receiving support, and to gather suggestions and/or critiques regarding survivors’ experiences with the supports they received. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 individuals who had lost a loved one to suicide at least one year prior to the interview. The interviews explored the participants’ experiences with accessing resources, formal and informal supports, negative experiences, and resource recommendations for other survivors of suicide. The findings from this study emphasized how coping with such a profound loss can be a unique experience for each individual; and there can be significant similarity, indicating that survivors of suicide are not alone in their grief. The participants of this study identified a crucial need for increased societal acceptance and understanding of issues related to mental health, suicide, and grief.

Language

English

Comments

iii, 67 pages. Includes bibliographical references (pages 56-60)

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