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What are the physical and psychological health effects of suicide bereavement on family members? An observational and interview mixed-methods study in Ireland.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:Research focussing on the impact of suicide bereavement on family members' physical and psychological health is scarce. The aim of this study was to examine how family members have been physically and psychologically affected following suicide bereavement. A secondary objective of the study was to describe the needs of family members bereaved by suicide. DESIGN:A mixed-methods study was conducted, using qualitative semistructured interviews and additional quantitative self-report measures of depression, anxiety and stress (DASS-21). SETTING:Consecutive suicide cases and next-of-kin were identified by examining coroner's records in Cork City and County, Ireland from October 2014 to May 2016. PARTICIPANTS:Eighteen family members bereaved by suicide took part in a qualitative interview. They were recruited from the Suicide Support and Information System: A Case-Control Study (SSIS-ACE), where family members bereaved by suicide (n=33) completed structured measures of their well-being. RESULTS:Qualitative findings indicated three superordinate themes in relation to experiences following suicide bereavement: (1) co-occurrence of grief and health reactions; (2) disparity in supports after suicide and (3) reconstructing life after deceased's suicide. Initial feelings of guilt, blame, shame and anger often manifested in enduring physical, psychological and psychosomatic difficulties. Support needs were diverse and were often related to the availability or absence of informal support by family or friends. Quantitative results indicated that the proportion of respondents above the DASS-21 cut-offs respectively were 24% for depression, 18% for anxiety and 27% for stress. CONCLUSIONS:Healthcare professionals' awareness of the adverse physical and psychosomatic health difficulties experienced by family members bereaved by suicide is essential. Proactively facilitating support for this group could help to reduce the negative health sequelae. The effects of suicide bereavement are wide-ranging, including high levels of stress, depression, anxiety and physical health difficulties.

SUBMITTER: Spillane A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5781012 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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What are the physical and psychological health effects of suicide bereavement on family members? An observational and interview mixed-methods study in Ireland.

Spillane Ailbhe A Matvienko-Sikar Karen K Larkin Celine C Corcoran Paul P Arensman Ella E

BMJ open 20180113 1

<h4>Objectives</h4>Research focussing on the impact of suicide bereavement on family members' physical and psychological health is scarce. The aim of this study was to examine how family members have been physically and psychologically affected following suicide bereavement. A secondary objective of the study was to describe the needs of family members bereaved by suicide.<h4>Design</h4>A mixed-methods study was conducted, using qualitative semistructured interviews and additional quantitative s ...[more]

PMID: 29331974

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Project description:ObjectiveFamily caregivers play an essential role in end-of-life care but suffer considerable impact on their own health. A better understanding of main factors related to carers' health is important to inform interventions. The purpose of the study was to test for the first time the potential impact of a comprehensive set of observable variables on carer health during end-of-life caregiving within a population-based carer sample.DesignNational retrospective, cross-sectional, 4-month post-bereavement postal census survey of family carers of people who died from cancer.Setting and participantsRelatives who registered a death from cancer during a 2-week period in England were identified from death certificates by the Office of National Statistics; response rate was 1504/5271 (28.5%).Outcome measuresCarers' mental health was measured through General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12; general health was measured through EuroQoL EQ-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-5D VAS).MethodsSurvey questions to measure potential variables associated with carer health were based on past research and covered patients' symptoms and functioning; caregiving activities and hours; informal and formal help received; work hours, other caregiving, volunteering; changes to work, income and expenditure; sleep and relaxation; and demographic variables. Bivariate analyses and ordinary least square regression were performed to investigate these variables' relationship with outcomes.ResultsPatients' psychological symptoms and functioning, caregiving hours, female gender and self-sought formal help related to worse mental health. General practitioner and social care input and relaxation related to better mental health. Patients' psychological symptoms, caregiving hours and female gender were associated with worse general health, and older age, employment and relaxation were associated with better general health.ConclusionsImprovements in carers' health overall may be made by focusing on potential impacts of patients' psychological symptoms on carers, facilitating respite and relaxation, and paying particular attention to factors affecting female carers.

Dataset Information

What are the physical and psychological health effects of suicide bereavement on family members? An observational and interview mixed-methods study in Ireland.

Publications

What are the physical and psychological health effects of suicide bereavement on family members? An observational and interview mixed-methods study in Ireland.

Similar Datasets

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