Mental Health of Widows After a Sudden Death: Suicide and Non-Suicide Survivors Compared

The presenter discussed the results of a study comparing the mental health of widows after the suicide of their spouse with the mental health of widows after sudden spousal death by other modes & identified the variables associated with satisfactory & unsatisfactory mental health. The mental health of 40 widows was assessed at 12-21 months post-bereavement. None of the study hypotheses were supported. Suicide survivors showed neither more anxiety, more depression, nor more overall symptom distress. 3 factors exerting the most influence on adjustment were identified – suspecting the spouse might die, role changes, & ambivalence.