Citation

Froese J, McDermott L. Leisure Sci. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/01490400.2021.1985663

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Research suggests that for every suicide as many as hundreds of people are left behind to bear the loss, referred to in the literature as suicide survivors. Part of survivors' difficulty in processing this loss is the negative emotional chaos it engenders; notably stigma, shame, blame, regret, and anger. While suppression and avoidance are commonly used to counteract these responses, some grief and trauma experts have emphasized attending to one's emotions and thoughts, rather than working to stifle them. This phenomenological study carried out with three suicide survivors highlights the capacity of leisure, as understood philosophically, to create opportunities for survivors to lean into their loss and express their grief to transform the suicide event from a tragedy to a more positive renewal. Sitting with the pain, upholding love, and sustaining hope were all relevant to the participants' ongoing grief journeys. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

leisure; phenomenology; Pieper; suicide loss