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Cited by 55Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthSuicide and Self-Harm StudiesDeath, Funerary Practices, and Mourning

Suicide and sudden death bereavement in Australia: a longitudinal study of family members over 2 years after death.

Open access
Kõlves, Kairi, Zhao, Qing, Ross, Victoria, Hawgood, Jacinta, Spence, Susan H, de Leo, Diego·2020·Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1177/0004867419882490
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Grief reactions change over time. However, only a limited number of studies, and none in Australia, have analysed changes in individual grief reactions longitudinally. The aim is to examine changes in grief reactions, mental health and suicidality of close family members bereaved by suicide, 6, 12 and 24 months after their loss compared with those bereaved by other forms of sudden death, adjusting for confounding factors. METHOD: Participants were 142 adult family members bereaved by suicide and 63 by other sudden death, followed up at 6, 12 and 24 months in Queensland, Australia. The Grief Experience Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation were used as main outcomes. Mixed-effects linear and logistic regressions were utilized for statistical analyses. RESULTS: There were significant differences in rejection, stigmatization, shame and responsibility between the suicide and sudden death bereaved over the 2-year period, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Rejection, stigmatization, search for explanation, somatic reactions and symptoms of depression and anxiety (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale) declined significantly over time in both groups. Rejection and somatic reactions showed group-by-time interaction effects, with a decrease in the suicide bereaved and no change in the sudden death bereaved. Loss of social support and suicidal ideation did not show a group or time effect. CONCLUSION: Although our findings confirm that there are several common dimensions to experiencing a sudden death of a family member, several differences were found between the suicide and non-suicide sudden death bereaved including significantly higher levels of rejection, stigmatization, shame and responsibility remaining in the suicide compared to sudden death bereaved 2 years after their loss. These findings should be considered in clinical practice and when designing postvention services in Australia.

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Crossref · 10.1177/0004867419882490

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  • Research has largely focused on suicide risk among bereaved relatives, though less is known about how many people are exposed and need support in the broader household or about their overall mortality risk from nonsuicide causes.

    “Research has largely focused on suicide risk among bereaved relatives,2,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25 though less is known about how many people are exposed and need support in the broader household19 or about their overall mortality risk from nonsuicide causes.9,26,27,28”

    From Mortality Risk Following a Household Suicide (2025) · cites this paper as [15]

  • Most evidence comes from high-income countries, where more robust health systems may buffer harms.

    “Most evidence comes from high-income countries,2,9,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,26,27,28 where more robust health systems may buffer harms.”

    From Mortality Risk Following a Household Suicide (2025) · cites this paper as [15]

  • Prior research shows elevated suicide risk among individuals with a family history of suicide.

    “Prior research shows elevated suicide risk among individuals with a family history of suicide,2,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25”

    From Mortality Risk Following a Household Suicide (2025) · cites this paper as [15]

  • These factors are associated with suicide behaviors.

    “These factors are associated with suicide behaviors,2,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25”

    From Mortality Risk Following a Household Suicide (2025) · cites this paper as [15]

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Authors
Kõlves, K., Zhao, Q., Ross, V., Hawgood, J., Spence, S. H., & de Leo, D.
Affiliations
  • Griffith University (AU)
  • Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt, QLD, Australia
Corresponding author
Kõlves, Kairi
ORCID
Venue
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2019-10-24
Volume
54
Issue
1
Pages
89-98
ISSN
  • 0004-8674 (ISSN-L)
  • 1440-1614
DOI
10.1177/0004867419882490
OpenAlex
W2981792438
Cited by
50
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2
FWCI
6.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • australian research council (DP140102567)
  • griffith university
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
Keywords
suicide bereavement, grief reactions, bereaved families, rejection, stigmatization, shame, responsibility, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, social support
MeSH terms
Suicide, Completed, Adult, Bereavement, Death, Sudden, Family, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Queensland, Shame, Psychological Distance, Social Stigma

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