Impact of suicide on families: emotions, relationship changes, and coping strategies / Impacto do suicídio nas famílias: emoções, mudanças nas relações e estratégias de enfrentamento
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.9789/2175-5361.rpcfo.v18.14492Keywords:
Suicidio; Emoções; Relações Familiares; Habilidades de enfrentamento.Abstract
Objective: To understand the impact of suicide on family dynamics, the emotions involved, and the coping strategies used. Method: A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study, with data analysis guided by the framework of Thematic Content Analysis, conducted in the region of São João da Boa Vista/SP. Audio-recorded interviews were conducted with one member from each affected family. Results: Fifteen individuals participated, predominantly young adult females. The reports revealed psychological suffering marked by sadness, guilt, helplessness, despair, and longing. The loss led to family restructuring, especially regarding roles and financial impacts. Coping strategies included spirituality, emotional avoidance, practical occupations, and the re-signification of pain through solidarity. Considerations: Loss due to suicide deeply affected families and demands a qualified listening that embraces the complexity of this experience. Recognizing and legitimizing this pain is essential to promote humanized and effective responses to this type of loss.
Downloads
References
World Health Organization. Suicide worldwide in 2021: global health estimates. Geneva: WHO; 2025 [cited 2025 jul 20]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240110069.
Wyllie JM, Robb KA, Sandford D, Etherson ME, Belkadi N, O'Connor RC. Suicide-related stigma and its relationship with help-seeking, mental health, suicidality and grief: scoping review. BJPsych Open. [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 jul 20];11(2):e60. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2024.857.
Marek F, Oexle N. Supportive and non-supportive social experiences following suicide loss: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health. [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 jul 20];24. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18545-3.
Levi-Belz Y, Hamdan S. Shame, depression, and complicated grief among suicide-loss survivors: the moderating role of self-disclosure. Eur J Psychotraumatol. [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 jul 20];14(1):2182820. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2182820.
Creuzé C, Lestienne L, Vieux M, Chalancon B, Poulet E, Leaune E. Lived experiences of suicide bereavement within families: a qualitative study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 jul 20];19(20). Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013070.
Oliveira LM, Faria HMC. O impacto psicossocial do suicídio nos familiares sobreviventes. Cadernos de Psicologia. [Internet]. 2019 [acesso em 20 julho 2025];8(1). Disponível em: https://seer.uniacademia.edu.br/index.php/cadernospsicologia/article/view/2508.
Chen Y, Laitila A. Longitudinal changes in suicide bereavement experiences: a qualitative study of family members over 18 months after loss. Int J Environ Res Public Health. [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 jul 20];20(4). Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043013.
Bardin L. Análise de conteúdo. São Paulo: Edições 70; 2016.
Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Estimativas populacionais para os municípios brasileiros em 01/07/2024. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2024 [acesso em 20 julho 2025]. Disponível em: https://www.ibge.gov.br/estatisticas/sociais/populacao/9103-estimativas-de-populacao.html.
Lavall E, Susin P, Reif KS, Santos HP, Schneider JF, Boni FG, et al. Experiences lived by family members of people who committed suicide: approach to biographic narratives. Rev Gaúcha Enferm. [Internet]. 2022 [acesso em 20 julho 2025];43:e20220228. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-1447.2022.20220228.
Sekowski M, Prigerson HG. Associations between symptoms of prolonged grief disorder and depression and suicidal ideation. Br J Clin Psychol. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 jul 20];61(4). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12381.
Suija K, Rooväli L, Aksen M, Pisarev H, Uusküla A, Kiivet RA. Coping with suicide loss: a qualitative study in primary health care. Prim Health Care Res Dev. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 jul 20];23:e41. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1463423622000263.
Zavrou R, Charalambous A, Papastavrou E, Koutroubas A, Karanikola M. Qualitative inquiry into the experience of suicide loss and coping strategies of suicide-bereaved parents. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 jul 20];18(1). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2265671.
Levi-Bel Y, Ben-Yaish T. Prolonged grief symptoms among suicide-loss survivors: the contribution of intrapersonal and interpersonal characteristics. Int J Environ Res Public Health. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 jul 20];19(17). Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710545.
Andriessen K, Logan N, Ball SA, De Goey T, Currier D, Krysinska K. Men's experiences of suicide bereavement: a qualitative study. Front Public Health. [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 jul 20];13. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1613951.
Gomes ER, Constantinidis TC. Sentimentos e percepções do luto de sobreviventes ao suicídio de jovens. Psicol Ciênc Profissão. [Internet]. 2023 [acesso em 20 julho 2025];43:e255629. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703003255629.
Silva K, Alves L, Santiago J, Pereira M. Efeitos psicológicos nos familiares enlutados por suicídio: uma abordagem tanatológica. Rev Políticas Públicas & Cidades. [Internet]. 2024 [acesso em 20 julho 2025];13(2):e861. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.23900/2359-1552v13n2-54-2024.
Hofmann L, Springer AL, Wagner B. The role of informal caregivers in suicide prevention for men. BMC Public Health. [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 jul 20];25. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21594-x.
Lavoratti MH, Eich PK, Batista ACK. Além do estigma: o impacto da censura social do suicídio na prestação de cuidados. Rev Contemporânea. [Internet]. 2024 [acesso em 20 julho 2025];4(12):e6888. Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.56083/RCV4N12-092.
Jann P, Netzer J, Hecker T. Traumatic loss: a systematic review of potential risk factors differentiating between PTSD and prolonged grief. Eur J Psychotraumatol. [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 jul 20];15(1). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2024.2371762.
Cepulienė AA, Skruibis P. The role of spirituality during suicide bereavement. Int J Environ Res Public Health. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 jul 20];19(14). Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148740.
Do Vale JR. Luto, espiritualidade e superação. Repositório Unicambury. [Internet]. 2021 [acesso em 20 julho 2025];1(1). Disponível em: http://www.revistaleiacambury.com.br/index.php/repositorio/article/view/51/50.
Entilli L, Ross V, De Leo D, Cipolletta S, Kõlves K. Experiences of parental suicide-bereavement: a longitudinal qualitative analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 jul 20];18(2). Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020564.
Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG. Posttraumatic growth: theory, research, and applications. New York: Routledge; 2021.
Kalmakis KA, Chandler GE. Posttraumatic growth following death by suicide: a systematic review. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 jul 20];60(2):. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20220118-01.
Joo JH, Bone L, Forte J, Kirley E, Lynch T, Aboumatar H. The benefits and challenges of peer support programmes for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Fam Pract. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 jul 20];39(5). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmac004.
Levi-Belz Y, Gilo T. Social support, attachment, and prolonged grief among suicide-loss survivors. Int J Environ Res Public Health. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 jul 20];19(10). Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106092.
Creegan E, Brown F, Jones R, et al. Peer and family perspectives on suicide bereavement support: a mixed-methods study. Front Psychol. [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 jul 20];15. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1402320.
Wainwright V, Cordingley L, Chew-Graham CA, Kapur N, Shaw J, Smith S, et al. Experiences of support from primary care and perceived needs of parents bereaved by suicide: a qualitative study. Br J Gen Pract. [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 jul 20];70(691):e102–10. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp20X707849.
Patrick RE, Dickinson RA, Gentry MT, Kim JU, Oberlin LE, Park S, et al. Treatment resistant late-life depression: a narrative review of psychosocial risk factors and interventions. J Affect Disord. [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 jul 20];356. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.017.
McDaniel BM, Daly P, Pacheco CL, Crist JD. Experiences with suicide loss: a qualitative study. Clin Nurs Res. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 jul 20];31(8). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/10547738221119344.
Brown HL, Selbe SM, Flesaker M, Rosellini AJ, Maple M, Gradus JL, et al. The impact of relationship type and closeness on mental health following suicide loss. Suicide Life Threat Behav. [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 jul 20];54(3). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13063.
Burlamaque AV, Fioreze C, Lodéa AL. O inominável: representações da morte por suicídio. Rev Mosaico. [Internet]. 2025 [acesso em 20 julho 2025];16(1). Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.21727/rm.v16i1.4978.
Mayer L, Puschner N, Votruba N, Rüsch N, Oexle N. Social reactions after disclosing suicide loss among women. Crisis. [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 jul 20];44(6). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000871.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Revista de Pesquisa Cuidado é Fundamental Online
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
TRANSFER AGREEMENT COPYRIGHT I transfer copyright of the article to the Journal of Care Survey is Fundamental - Online - RPCF, so it is accepted due to electronic publishing. The copyright includes the right to reproduce in whole or in part by any means, distributing that article, including figures, photographs, and any translations. The author can also print and distribute copies of your article, stating that since the rights belong to RPCF. I declare that this manuscript is original and has not been submitted for publication, in whole or in part to other online journals or not, so BMMC in the Annals of scientific events or book chapters.
