Suicide Survivor Awareness

Introduction

Suicide survivors are referred to as those individuals whose significant other have committed suicide. Studies reveal that approximately 18 suicide survivors are associated with an individual who committed suicide. For 800,000 individuals who commit suicide per annum globally, approximately 14.4 million individuals suffer from suicide bereavement each year. A significant amount of suicide survivors are at a greater risk of suffering from complicated grief or prolonged grief disorder which is a pathological grief reaction. Suicide survivors also tend to suffer from depression and suicidal ideation. The three key emotions that take over a suicide survivor are guilt, shame, and blame. These individuals feel guilty for not preventing suicide, blame themselves for the death, and experience shame regarding the cause of suicide.

The Suicide Survivor Stigma

The social stigma associated with suicide survivors may further complicate the grieving process. Social stigmatization is characterized by negative behaviors implicated toward suicide survivors. This includes labeling and stereotyping suicide survivors. Suicide survivors are also subjected to self-stigma. This causes suicide survivors to experience social devaluation or perceived stigma, social discrimination or enacted stigma, and be subjected to the internalized stigma that is characterized by internalizing the negative attitudes with subsequent maladaptive behavior and feelings of guilt and shame. Actions by the society that contribute to this stigma include blaming the suicide survivor, negative media portrayal of the individual who committed suicide, and gossip and/or rumors about the deceased. This causes the suicide survivors to suffer from psychological distress, poor quality of life, lowered self-esteem, a delay in seeking healthcare, and reduced accessibility to social support networks.

Characteristics of Suicide Survivors

Several characteristics, personal and interpersonal, can contribute to grief management and alleviate the pain. The personal and interpersonal characteristics are listed below.

1. Perceived social support counters depression and loneliness

2. Self-disclosure

3. Secure attachment

4. Self forgiveness includes acceptance of mistakes, abandonment of anger and resentment, and promoting positive behavior and emotions towards one own self. Self-forgiveness help alleviates psychopathological symptoms and counters emotional distress.

Resources Available

Different organizations and social support groups have been developed in order to help alleviate the psychological distress and the stigma associated with suicide survivors. The term 'postvention' has been coined to represent the activities that promote recovery and prevent the negative outcomes of suicide bereavement. The postvention services and programs are listed as follows.

1. The American Association of Suicidology (AAS)
   This organization addresses suicide prevention and suicide support. AAS has organized a conference for facilitating suicide survivors called Healing After Suicide. One can find educational articles and a suicide survivor support group directory on the AAS website.

2. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
   The AFSP also provides information for suicide survivors and a directory for related social support groups. The organization also offers training programs to the facilitators of social support groups.

3. The Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
   This organization aims to promote public awareness and education as well as offers services similar to those provided by AAS and AFSP.

4. Friends for Survival

       This organization provides monthly newsletters targeted at the education and support of            suicide survivors as well as offers a Suicide Loss Helpline to cater to provide emotional              and social support to the suicide survivors.

Conclusion

Suicide takes a toll on the emotional, psychological, and physical health of the associated friends and family members, also known as suicide survivors. Stigmatization of suicide survivors further exacerbates the adverse outcomes. Sufficient social support and counseling may help suicide survivors in overcoming guilt and shame and recover quickly.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5033475/
2. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00341/full
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6896901/
4. https://www.sprc.org/sites/default/files/resource-program/Survivors.pdf