Citation

Hughes RA. American Journal of Pastoral Counseling 2003; 6(2): 43-62.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003)

DOI

10.1300/J062v06n02_04

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicide is a common form of violent death that requires pastoral care for the survivors. This essay narrates a completed suicide of a 28-year old, white, male, alcoholic in terms of his personal and family history. Special attention is devoted to the mourning of the widow in light of her personal traumas. Suicide grief is discussed as a triple loss in the forms of death, rejection, and disillusionment; and guidelines for pastoral care are formulated. The theory of depression as the cause of suicide is disputed, and the concept of psychache is favorably considered. The essay concludes by rejecting attitudes of suicide as sin and mental illness and views suicide as a tragedy. © 2003, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide attempt; Psychache; Abandonment syndrome; Grief work; Restorative retelling