Resource Tag: BEREAVEMENT GROUPS

We examined social mechanisms of suicide support groups based on evidence from an Italian postvention program. Our data comprise field notes from 47 meetings of a peer group and interviews with 20 suicide survivors. Group meetings unfolded as interaction rituals with elements including the survivors’ focus on their trauma, their common emotions, and their perception […]

We examined social mechanisms of suicide support groups based on evidence from an Italian postvention program. Our data comprise field notes from 47 meetings of a peer group and interviews with 20 suicide survivors. Group meetings unfolded as interaction rituals with elements including the survivors’ focus on their trauma, their common emotions, and their perception […]

Background: Little attention has been paid to the experiences of families and carers supporting and accessing support for individuals in the period preceding and following their death by suicide. For many families and carers who have experienced loss and been subjected to a series of unhelpful or harmful encounters with health and emergency services, there […]

Whilst the body of research on the impacts of suicide bereavement interventions continues to grow, there is little understanding of the impact over time. This study measured changes in suicidality, levels of loneliness and grief reactions over time between those receiving support from a community-based suicide bereavement service (StandBy) compared with those that did not […]

Self-help support groups are groups made up of people who are directly and personally affected by a particular issue, condition or concern. They are run by their members, which means that those directly affected by the  issue are the ones who control the activities and the priorities of their group. While many self help groups […]

This booklet is for facilitators of suicide loss support groups. Hopefully it will be of value to both new and experienced facilitators, but it cannot address every situation that you may encounter. It is best used in a training where discussion can clarify and expand upon the material given herein. It draws on the experience […]

Support groups for suicide loss survivors are a relatively common resource used by those who are left to cope in the aftermath of a suicide death. Though descriptive studies have been used to provide an overview of support groups in the past, there have been no efforts to understand nuances of these groups and the […]

Before taking on some of the nuts and bolts of adult bereavement support groups, it is probably a good idea to consider what support groups are and why they can be a useful option for supporting the bereaved as they grieve. This will enable the laying  down of some groundwork, what might work best for […]

Survivors of Suicide (SOS) is a support group for bereaved family members and close friends of suicide victims. The group provides a safe place for survivors to support one another as they deal with the painful questions and feelings that follow suicide.  Bereavement after suicide is a profoundly difficult and complex experience. The stigma of […]

This two-part report examines important aspects of survivor of suicide support groups: some of the motivating factors attracting survivors to join these groups and why many withdraw as time after a loss passes. From a variety of data sources, including survey data collected from 462 parents losing a child to suicide, participant observation data (collected […]

Self-help support groups are groups made up of people who are directly and personally affected by a particular issue, condition or concern. They are run by their members, which means that those directly affected by the issue are the ones who control  the activities and the priorities of their group. While many self help groups […]

Upon completion, students will be able to: 1.Identify at least two benefits of offering groups. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of at least two topics and activities appropriate for a group. 3. Articulate knowledge of ways in which to successfully manage group challenges. Before taking on some of the nuts and bolts of adult bereavement support groups, […]

Suicide can have a significant impact on the bereaved. Peer support groups for suicide bereavement have been shown to enhance the wellbeing of those attending. However, research is lacking on the mechanisms that underlie these benefits. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 adults attending peer-facilitated support groups in Ireland and thematic analysis was used. The […]

Suicide is a major public health issue affecting countless people each year worldwide. Support groups are one of the few resources available to survivors of suicide loss to aid the healing journey. This study examined differences among support group facilitators based on status as a peer, professional, or peer/professional. Differences emerged among the facilitator types, […]

Introduction The death of a significant person through suicide is a very difficult experience and can have long-term impact on an individual’s psychosocial and physical functioning. However, there are only few studies which have examined the effects of interventions in suicide survivors. In the present study, we examined an online-group intervention for people bereaved by […]

Those who have been bereaved are in need of support, and groupwork is an effective way in which people can come together and support each other in a trusted environment. This book provides a practical introduction to setting up and facilitating bereavement support groups, giving facilitators the confidence to run a group. It guides the […]

This article reviews the major tactics for preventing suicide, including medications, psychotherapy for suicidal clients, emergency management & treatment, crisis intervention centres, education programmes for physicians, restricting access to lethal methods, school education programs, & groups for survivors. A brief paragraph discusses resources for those wishing to die by suicide. Evaluative data is presented for […]

To update & expand Rubey & McIntosh’s (1996) survivors of suicide support groups report, SPAN USA did a survey of American support group leaders. 24% of 100 surveys were complete. There are now more survivor groups (from 280 to 417) & the majority of groups now have survivor leaders (78% versus 25%). Groups continue to […]

This set of standards & guidelines was developed to support those who participate in & operate suicide bereavement support groups. The 4 major standards articulated are: support group & maintenance (goals, membership, structure, ethics, legal aspects, & marketing); support group philosophy & processes (philosophy on clients, service delivery, inclusiveness, group processes, understanding suicide bereavement, & […]

This study reviewed the current status of postvention support, including definitions used & the objectives & effectiveness of support activities for people bereaved by suicide. 43 refs.)

This paper outlines the pressing public health need to conduct research & determine effective ways to identify & meet the needs of suicide survivors, particularly through survivor support groups. After describing the various approaches to survivor support groups, the authors explain the need for further research, despite the inherent challenges. Finally, several questions are posed […]

With survey data collected primarily from peer support group participants, the authors compared stigmatization responses of 462 parents losing children to suicide with 54 other traumatic death survivors, & 24 child natural death survivors. Parents who encountered harmful responses & strained relations with family members & non-kin reported heightened grief difficulties. After controlling for time […]