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Tragedies, Fates, Furies and Fuels: Narratives of Individuals Bereaved by Suicide

Author

Listed:
  • Diane Macdonald

    (Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia)

  • Alexandra Nicolopoulos

    (Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
    School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia)

  • Kathryn McLachlan

    (Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia)

  • Stephanie Habak

    (Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia)

  • Helen Christensen

    (Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
    School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia)

  • Katherine M. Boydell

    (Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
    School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia)

Abstract

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 44, with fifty to sixty per cent of individuals who die by suicide ‘flying under the radar’, dying in this way without receiving formal mental health care or treatment. This paper explores how people bereaved by suicide interpret and narrate the lead-up to, act and aftermath of a male family member who died by suicide. We used qualitative semi-structured interviews to explore how narratives of suicide were articulated by loved ones bereaved by suicide. Analytic findings were conceptualised through Bamberg’s four layers of cognitive narrative structure–setting, complication, resolution, coda. We derived three complications conveyed by the group as a whole: that the men felt sentenced by fate, charged with fury and were fueled by alcohol. These narratives by individuals bereaved by suicide draw us into the larger picture of meaning-making, the loss of life and finding closure. They also speak to the need for early interventions, as most of these stories are rooted in childhood tragedy that was not sufficiently addressed or supported.

Suggested Citation

  • Diane Macdonald & Alexandra Nicolopoulos & Kathryn McLachlan & Stephanie Habak & Helen Christensen & Katherine M. Boydell, 2022. "Tragedies, Fates, Furies and Fuels: Narratives of Individuals Bereaved by Suicide," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8715-:d:864988
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. George Lavers & Karl Andriessen & Karolina Krysinska, 2022. "A Systematic Review of the Experiences and Support Needs of Informal Caregivers for People Who Have Attempted Suicide or Experienced Suicidal Ideation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-20, April.
    2. Pauline Rivart & Verity Wainwright & Sandra Flynn & Isabelle M. Hunt & Jenny Shaw & Shirley Smith & Barry McGale & Sharon McDonnell, 2021. "Ethnic Minority Groups’ Experiences of Suicide Bereavement: A Qualitative Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-11, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yossi Levi-Belz & Karolina Krysinska & Karl Andriessen, 2023. "What Do We Know about Suicide Bereavement, and What We Can Do to Help Suicide-Loss Survivors?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-5, April.
    2. Katherine M. Boydell & Alexandra Nicolopoulos & Diane Macdonald & Stephanie Habak & Helen Christensen, 2023. "Understanding Protective Factors for Men at Risk of Suicide Using the CHIME Framework: The Primacy of Relational Connectedness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.

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