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The Impact of Suicide Bereavement on Educational and Occupational Functioning: A Qualitative Study of 460 Bereaved Adults

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  • Alexandra Pitman

    (UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK
    Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, London NW1 0PE, UK)

  • Adelia Khrisna Putri

    (UGM Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Sosio Humaniora 1, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia)

  • Tanisha De Souza

    (North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Memory Service, Broad Street Health Centre, Morland Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 9HU, UK)

  • Fiona Stevenson

    (UCL Research Department of Primary Care & Population Health, Rowland Hill St, London NW3 2PF, UK)

  • Michael King

    (UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK)

  • David Osborn

    (UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK
    Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, London NW1 0PE, UK)

  • Nicola Morant

    (UCL Division of Psychiatry, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NF, UK)

Abstract

People bereaved by suicide are at an increased risk of suicide and of dropping out of education or work. Explanations for these associations are unclear, and more research is needed to understand how improving support in educational or work settings for people bereaved by suicide might contribute to reducing suicide risk. Our objective was to explore the impact of suicide on occupational functioning. We conducted a cross-sectional online study of bereaved adults aged 18–40, recruited from staff and students of British higher educational institutions in 2010. We used thematic analysis to analyse free text responses to two questions probing the impact of suicide bereavement on work and education. Our analysis of responses from 460 adults bereaved by suicide identified three main themes: (i) specific aspects of grief that impacted on work performance, cognitive and emotional domains, and social confidence; (ii) structural challenges in work or educational settings including a lack of institutional support, the impact of taking time off, and changes to caring roles; and (iii) new perspectives on the role of work, including determination to achieve. Institutional support should be tailored to take account of the difficulties and experiences described.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandra Pitman & Adelia Khrisna Putri & Tanisha De Souza & Fiona Stevenson & Michael King & David Osborn & Nicola Morant, 2018. "The Impact of Suicide Bereavement on Educational and Occupational Functioning: A Qualitative Study of 460 Bereaved Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:4:p:643-:d:138986
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pitman, Alexandra L. & Stevenson, Fiona & Osborn, David P.J. & King, Michael B., 2018. "The stigma associated with bereavement by suicide and other sudden deaths: A qualitative interview study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 121-129.
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    Cited by:

    1. Humayun Kabir & Myfanwy Maple & Md Shahidul Islam & Kim Usher, 2019. "The Current Health and Wellbeing of the Survivors of the Rana Plaza Building Collapse in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Edouard Leaune & Héloïse Rouzé & Laurène Lestienne & Kushtrim Bislimi & Benoit Chalancon & Margot Morgiève & Pierre Grandgenèvre & Guillaume Vaiva & Nathalie Laplace & Emmanuel Poulet & Julie Haesebae, 2022. "The Needs, Use and Expectations of People Bereaved by Suicide Regarding Online Resources: An Online Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Alexandra Pitman & Fiona Stevenson & David Osborn, 2022. "Investigating Whether Bereavement by Suicide and Other Unnatural Causes Has a Deterrent Effect on Alcohol or Drug Use in Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-11, October.
    4. Hilary Causer & Johanna Spiers & Nikolaos Efstathiou & Stephanie Aston & Carolyn A. Chew-Graham & Anya Gopfert & Kathryn Grayling & Jill Maben & Maria van Hove & Ruth Riley, 2022. "The Impact of Colleague Suicide and the Current State of Postvention Guidance for Affected Co-Workers: A Critical Integrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-24, September.
    5. Merike Sisask & Kairi Kõlves, 2018. "Towards a Greater Understanding of Suicidal Behaviour and Its Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-8, August.
    6. Valeriya Azorina & Nicola Morant & Hedvig Nesse & Fiona Stevenson & David Osborn & Michael King & Alexandra Pitman, 2019. "The Perceived Impact of Suicide Bereavement on Specific Interpersonal Relationships: A Qualitative Study of Survey Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-15, May.

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