Citation

Hafford-Letchfield T, Hanna J, Grant E, Ryder-Davies L, Cogan N, Goodman J, Rasmussen S, Martin S. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022; 19(12): e7217.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph19127217

PMID

35742466

Abstract

Bereavement by suicide for people in later life is significantly under-researched. Research on ageing and suicide has yet to address the experiences of those bereaved by suicide and how such a devastating loss affects the ageing experience.

OBJECTIVES: We explored the substantive issues involved in bereavement by suicide and its impact on later life.

METHODS: This was a co-produced qualitative study. Peer researchers with lived experience conducted in-depth interviews with twenty-four people aged 60-92 years. A phenomenological approach informed the data analysis. Main Findings: Themes described included (1) moral injury and trauma; (2) the rippling effect on wider family and networks; (3) transitions and adaptations of bereaved people and how their 'living experience' impacted on ageing.

CONCLUSIONS: It is important to understand how individual experiences of suicide intersect with ageing and the significance of targeted assessment and intervention for those bereaved by suicide in ageing policies and support.

Language: en

Keywords

trauma; suicide; ageing; peer support; suicide prevention; bereavement; moral injury; later life