In the Aftermath of Teenage Suicide: a Qualitative Study of the Psychosocial Consequences for the Surviving Family Members

13 cases from 1995-1998 were retrospectively identified from a larger project on adolescent unnatural death in northern Sweden. 10 families agreed to participate in open interviews. These took place 15-25 months after the suicide & data gathered was analyzed according to a grounded theory model. At the time of the interview, the families were still struggling with explaining why the suicide occurred, especially since most had occurred without overt premonitory signs. The bereaved family members were still profoundly affected by the loss, but all had returned to an ostensibly normal life. Post-suicide support was often badly timed & insufficient, especially for younger siblings. (32 refs.)