After a death by suicide, accident, or homicide, seek support proactively
A Danish study found that, within five years, people whose spouse died by suicide had about 80% higher rates of newly diagnosed mental disorders for men and 70% higher rates for women than the general population. Compared with other bereaved spouses, rates were 70–100% higher. Suicide-bereaved people also more often reported shame and social rejection. Those experiences are reasons to seek support, not reasons to wait alone until you feel better.
What it takes
China's 12356 mental health helpline is free. A psychological or psychiatric clinic charges its ordinary consultation fee. Initiating contact can be the difficult step.
What you may gain
Danish nationwide records covered 6.7 million adults during 1980–2014 and more than 136 million person-years. Following spousal suicide, five-year mental-disorder incidence relative to the general population had IRR 1.8 for men, 95% CI 1.6–2.0, and 1.7 for women, 1.6–1.8. Relative to spouses bereaved by other causes, IRRs were 1.7 for men, 1.5–1.9, and 2.0 for women, 1.9–2.2. Suicidal behavior, mortality, and use of municipal support were also higher, as were physical conditions including cirrhosis and sleep disorders. A separate narrative review of 57 studies linked suicide bereavement with increased suicide risk in partners, psychiatric admission among parents after a child's suicide, suicide among mothers after an adult child's suicide, and depression among children after parental suicide. Compared with other violent bereavement, suicide bereavement more often involved reported rejection and shame.
Context & considerations
Sudden and violent losses include accidents, homicides, and disasters. Compared with deaths from illness, these losses are associated with more post-traumatic stress, depression, and persistent disabling grief, and slower recovery. If you have suicidal thoughts yourself, see chapter 1, entry 25 and seek immediate support.
Research & references
Erlangsen A et al. (2017). Association Between Spousal Suicide and Mental, Physical, and Social Health Outcomes: A Longitudinal and Nationwide Register-Based Study. JAMA Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0226; Pitman A et al. (2014). Effects of suicide bereavement on mental health and suicide risk. The Lancet Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70224-X; Kristensen P et al. (2012). Bereavement and mental health after sudden and violent losses: a review. Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1521/psyc.2012.75.1.76