Unspoken Stories: Exploring the Narratives of Self-defined Family Members who have Experienced Suicide Bereavement

Abstract

Aims: This study explores the unspoken narratives experienced by individuals who have been bereaved by suicide. Method: Nineteen semi-structured interviews were carried out with individuals who classified themselves as self-defined family members to individuals who had died by suicide. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Findings: Six themes, with eight subthemes, were identified within this data: 1) ‘explicitly unspoken’; 2) ‘never ending tasks for the survivor’; 3) ‘them and us- the act of othering’ (which included the subthemes, ‘experienced othering’, ‘perceived othering’, and ‘solidarity’); 4) ‘protection’ (including the following three subthemes: ‘protecting deceased’, ‘protecting others’, and protecting self’); 5) ‘comparisons to physical illness- nobody says ‘oh they’ve committed cancer’’; 6) ‘when and who are ‘allowed’ to grieve?’ (including subthemes ‘there’s an expiry date to grief- Sarah’, and ‘hierarchy of grieving’). Considerations and Implications: This study offers insight into an area with limited research. The results have been considered in line with existing literature, and clinical, research and wider societal implications have been discussed.