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Cited by 55Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthDeath, Funerary Practices, and MourningSuicide and Self-Harm Studies

Public hazards or private tragedies? An exploratory study of the effect of coroners’ procedures on those bereaved by suicide

Biddle, Lucy·2003·Social Science & Medicine
DOI 10.1016/s0277-9536(02)00097-7
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Abstract

This study in the UK examined how the suicide inquest can affect bereaved relatives and impact upon their grief. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of 16 individuals bereaved by suicide in order to explore their experiences of the inquest. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurrent problems and their effects. Several interviewees had been significantly traumatised by the inquest process. They were particularly disturbed by the judicial atmosphere, media activity, the invasion of privacy, and giving evidence. Exposure to graphic evidence, delayed inquests, confiscated suicide notes and the inquest's failure to provide explanation and deal with blame also presented problems. Difficulties were compounded by a widespread lack of preparation and communication prior to the event. The inquest adversely affected resolution of grief in two main ways: by exacerbating common grief reactions associated with bereavement by suicide, such as, shame, guilt and anger; and, by interfering with necessary grief work, most notably, the task of arriving at a meaningful and acceptable account of the death. Other interviewees described more positive experiences, one of whom regarded the inquest as helpful to their resolution of grief. Whereas these results may not typify all inquest experiences, the findings do suggest that a number of reforms are necessary to avoid the possibility of the inquest distressing this vulnerable group. Ideally, there should be a clear protocol for dealing with bereaved relatives. This is currently lacking in the coroners' system.

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  • Qualitative results showed that perceived stigmatization went along with a deep sense of shame and embarrassment in suicide survivors.

    “Results from qualitative studies also showed that perceived stigmatization went along with a deep sense of shame and embarrassment in suicide survivors [27,48,50,52,54,55].”

    From The Stigma of Suicide Survivorship and Related Consequences—A Systematic Review (2016) · cites this paper as [27]

  • One UK study found that suicide survivors experience stigmatizing treatment during legal trials following a suicide, such as privacy invasion or negative media portrayal.

    “One UK study found that suicide survivors experience stigmatizing treatment during legal trials following a suicide, for example in the form of privacy invasion or negative media portrayal [27].”

    From The Stigma of Suicide Survivorship and Related Consequences—A Systematic Review (2016) · cites this paper as [27]

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Authors
Biddle, L.
Affiliations
University of Bristol (GB)
Corresponding author
Biddle, Lucy
ORCID
Biddle, Lucy
Venue
Social Science & Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2003-03
Volume
56
Issue
5
Pages
1033-1045
ISSN
0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s0277-9536(02)00097-7
OpenAlex
W2075158245
Cited by
55
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
FWCI
2.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Keywords
coroners, grief, grief resolution, trauma, suicide notes, media coverage of suicide, privacy violations, guilt and shame
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Attitude, Autopsy, Bereavement, Child, Psychology, Child, Coroners and Medical Examiners, Female, Forensic Medicine, United Kingdom, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Parents, Suicide, Spouses, Judicial Role, Qualitative Research

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