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Cited by 343Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthSuicide and Self-Harm StudiesDeath, Funerary Practices, and Mourning

Suicide survivors’ mental health and grief reactions: A systematic review of controlled studies

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Sveen, Carl‐Aksel, Walby, Fredrik A.·2008·Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
DOI 10.1521/suli.2008.38.1.13
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Abstract

There has been a debate over several decades whether suicide survivors experience more severe mental health consequences and grief reactions than those who have been bereaved through other causes of death. This is the first systematic review of suicide survivors' reactions compared with survivors after other modes of death. Studies were identified by searching the PsychINFO and MEDLINE databases. Forty-one studies met the eligibility criteria. A qualitative data analysis was performed. There were no significant differences between survivors of suicide and other bereaved groups regarding general mental health, depression, PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and suicidal behavior. The results regarding the overall level of grief are less clear, depending on whether general grief instruments or suicide-specific instruments are used. Considering specific grief variables, suicide survivors report higher levels of rejection, shame, stigma, need for concealing the cause of death, and blaming than all other survivor groups.

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  • There is accumulating clinical and empirical evidence pointing to the existence of subgroups of suicide survivors.

    “There is also accumulating clinical and empirical evidence pointing to the existence of subgroups of suicide survivors.”

    From Essential Questions on Suicide Bereavement and Postvention (2011) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Suicide Survivors’ Reactions section discusses possible subgroups with different grief reactions, but frames their existence as something that needs further substantiation. It does not characterize the evidence for subgroups as accumulating clinical and empirical evidence. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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  • Survivors' reactions differ as a consequence of previous history of suicidality of the deceased and the expectation of death.

    “For example, it has been reported [15] that survivors’ reactions differ as a consequence of previous history of suicidality of the deceased and the expectation of death.”

    From Essential Questions on Suicide Bereavement and Postvention (2011) · cites this paper as [15]

    In “Suicide Survivors’ Reactions” (page unavailable), the review suggests that prior suicide threats or attempts may make a death less unexpected and may attenuate grief; it also says reactions may be more severe or different when a suicide is unexpected. These are tentative explanations for possible differences, not an established finding that prior suicidality and expectation of death cause survivors’ reactions to differ. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • The contradiction between personal accounts and research studies is perpetuated by (self-)selection bias between clinical groups and study groups, as well as methodological problems of many studies, including small sample sizes, lack of control groups, and lack of follow-up over longer periods.

    “The existing contradiction is perpetuated by the (self-)selection bias between the clinical groups and groups included in the studies (e.g., people seeking professional help might experience more so-called prolonged or complicated grief than individuals participating in bereavement surveys) as well as methodological problems of many studies, including small sample sizes, lack of control groups and”

    From Essential Questions on Suicide Bereavement and Postvention (2011) · cites this paper as [15]

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  • The interview topic guide was based on published research and policy literature and suggestions of an advisory group of young bereaved adults and bereavement counsellors.

    “This was based on the published research and policy literature (Cvinar, 2005, Public Health England & National Suicide Prevention Alliance, 2015, Sveen and Walby, 2008), and the suggestions of an advisory group of young bereaved adults and bereavement counsellors.”

    From The stigma associated with bereavement by suicide and other sudden deaths: A qualitative interview study (2018) · cites this paper as Sveen and Walby, 2008

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1 of the 64 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. proposition. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, Studies analyzed for this review are indicated with 29, 256-271.
  2. Brent, D. A., & Mann, J. J. (2005). Family spouses of older suicides. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 47, 357-366.
  3. Cain, A. C. (Ed.). (1972). Survivors of sui- of surviving spouses of suicide and natural deaths. cide. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 22, 107-124.
  4. case-control study. Journal of Affective Disorders,

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Authors
Sveen, C., & Walby, F. A.
Affiliations
University of Oslo (NO)
Corresponding author
Sveen, Carl‐Aksel
ORCID
Venue
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2008-02
Volume
38
Issue
1
Pages
13-29
ISSN
  • 0363-0234 (ISSN-L)
  • 1943-278X
DOI
10.1521/suli.2008.38.1.13
OpenAlex
W2083512273
Cited by
343
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 11
FWCI
1.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 1064 d)
Locations
  • Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
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 survivors, grief reactions, bereavement, mental health, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, suicidal behavior, stigma, shame, blame, suicide bereavement
MeSH terms
Grief, Humans, Mental Health, Suicide, Survivors

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