Suicide Loss Survivors

The complicated grief experienced by suicide loss survivors leads to feelings of abandonment, rejection, intense self-blame, and depression. Stigma surrounding suicide further burdens survivors who can experience rejection by their community and social networks. Research in the field of psychology has delved into the grieving process of suicide loss survivors, however the effects of suicide require more sociological study to fully understand and support the impact of the suicidal bereavement process on the social interactions and relationships of those left behind after death. This study aims to contribute to the body of research exploring the social challenges faced after the suicide of a loved one. Based on the analysis of powerful personal narratives through qualitative interviews shared by 14 suicide loss survivors this study explores the social construction of the grieving and healing process for suicide loss survivors. Recognizing that the most reliable relief is in commiseration with like experienced people, this research points to the support group as a builder of social solidarity. The alienation caused by the shame and stigma of suicide loss can be reversed by the feelings of attachment to the group that listens, understands and accepts. Groups created by and for suicide loss survivors should be considered a necessary tool to be used toward healing those who suffer from loss by suicide

Abandonment (legal · Blame · Feeling · Grief · Loneliness · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Shame · Social support · Sociology · Clinical Psychology · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Homelessness and Social Issues · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Social Psychology

• Men’s experiences of suicide bereavement

  Open Access•Karl Andriessen, Nina Logan et al.•Frontiers in Public Health•2025

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• Experiências de profissionais de saúde que perderam pacientes por suicídio

  Open Access•Monique Lauermann Tassinari Rückert, Tonantzin Ribeiro Gonçalves et al.•Revista Pesquisa Qualitativa•2026

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• Suicide in rural agrarian culture

  Open Access•Sunit Agus Tri Cahyono, Eko Wahyono et al.•Frontiers in Sociology•2025

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• We need to share our stories”

  Open Access•Chandra Ramamurthy, Gregory Armstrong et al.•Death Studies•2025

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• The suicide support group as a signifying agent and emotion transformer

  Deborah Fraccaro, Domenico Tosini•Death Studies•2023

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• Reflections from a Community Capacity Building Forum to Support People Bereaved by Suicide

  Colleen Carlon, Jacquie Tarrant et al.•Australian Social Work•2025

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• The Detection of Resilience in Families Grieving Over a Suicide

  Open Access•Ana Gallardo-Flores, José-María Morán-Carrillo et al.•OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying•2023

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• Risk and Protective Factors in Ecuadorian Adolescent Survivors of Suicide

  Open Access•Marly Johana Bahamón, José Julián Javela et al.•Children•2023

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• Risk factors for suicidal ideation among survivors of suicide loss using a psychological support hotline

  Open Access•Hong Liang, Zikang Liu et al.•Frontiers in Psychiatry•2025

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• Unveiling studies on self-healing practices for suicide loss survivors

  Open Access•Adelia Khrisna Putri, Gregory Armstrong et al.•Death Studies•2024

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• Individual and Sociocultural Determinants of Suicide in an Indian Community

  Open Access•Madhuri Thorat Nalavade, Bobby Zachariah et al.•Illness Crisis & Loss•2026

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• An Action Research Framework for Religion and the Stigma of Suicide

  Open Access•Curtis Lehmann, Cynthia Leung et al.•Religions•2021

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• Doing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

  Jonathan A Smith, Maria Jarman et al.•Qualitative Health Psychology•1999

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• How Many People Are Exposed to Suicide? Not Six

  Open Access•Julie Cerel, Margaret M Brown et al.•Suicide and Life-Threatening…•2019

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• Suicide bereavement and complicated grief

  Open Access•Ilanit Tal Young, Alana Iglewicz et al.•Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience•2012

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• Grief after suicide

  Open Access•Anna Therese Overvad, B Wagoner•Culture & Psychology•2020

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• Clinical work with suicide loss survivors

  John R Jordan, Vanessa McGann•Death Studies•2017

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• Attitudes About Suicide Ideation Among Suicide Loss Survivors

  Open Access•Athena Kheibari, Julie Cerel et al.•Psychological Reports•2018

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• Behind Closed Doors

  Open Access•Lindsay Sheehan, Patrick W Corrigan et al.•OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying•2016

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• The case for a sociology of dying, death, and bereavement

  Neil Thompson, Neil Aaron Thompson et al.•Death Studies•2016

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• Suicide Loss Survivors′ Experiences with Therapy

  Open Access•Rebecca Sanford, Julie Cerel et al.•Community Mental Health Journal•2016

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• Forgiveness and Blame Among Suicide Survivors

  Open Access•Ines Testoni, Elisa Francescon et al.•Community Mental Health Journal•2018

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• Survivors of Suicide

  Open Access•Amy Honeycutt, Regina T Praetorius•Illness Crisis & Loss•2016

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• Prominent Feelings and Self-Regard Among Survivors of Suicide

  Open Access•Alexis M Rabalais, Scott E Wilk et al.•Illness Crisis & Loss•2017

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• The Self and Significant Others

  Open Access•Nina Jakoby, Nina R Jakoby•Illness Crisis & Loss•2015

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• Grief as a Social Emotion

  Nina Jakoby, Nina R Jakoby•Death Studies•2012

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• Shame in Self and Society

  Open Access•Thomas J Scheff•Symbolic Interaction•2003

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• Shame and the Social Bond

  Open Access•Thomas J Scheff•Sociological Theory•2000

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• Emotion Work, Feeling Rules, and Social Structure

  Arlie Russell Hochschild•American Journal of Sociology•1979

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