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The Spaces of Peer-Led Support Groups for Suicide Bereaved in Denmark and the Republic of Ireland: A Focus Group Study

Author

Listed:
  • Lisbeth Hybholt

    (Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatry Region Zealand, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark
    Mental Health Services East, Psychiatry Region Zealand, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark)

  • Agnes Higgins

    (School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Niels Buus

    (School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
    Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark)

  • Lene Lauge Berring

    (Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatry Region Zealand, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark
    Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark)

  • Terry Connolly

    (Friends of Suicide Loss (FOSL), D06 T685 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Annette Erlangsen

    (Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark
    Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark
    Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
    Center of Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia)

  • Jean Morrissey

    (School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland)

Abstract

Research has shown that people bereaved by suicide have an increased risk of mental health problems, suicidality and associated stigma, as well as higher rates of sick leave and increased rates of receiving disability pensions. Peer-led suicide bereavement support groups are perceived to enhance people’s recovery by enabling shared experiences with others who are bereaved in similar circumstances. The aim of the research was to explore the viewpoints of participants living in Denmark and the Republic of Ireland on these peer-led support groups. This study focused on how the participants experienced being part of the peer-led support and how the participation affected them. We conducted four focus groups, two in Denmark and two in the Republic of Ireland, and two individual interviews, involving a total of 27 people bereaved by suicide. Data were analyzed thematically. The participants’ experiences in the peer-led support groups were in contrast to what they had experienced in their daily lives. They felt alienated in daily living, as they believed that people could not comprehend their situation, which in turn led participants to search for people with similar experiences and join the peer-led support groups. While peer-led support groups may not be helpful for everyone, they created ‘supportive spaces’ that potentially affected the participants’ recovery processes, from which we generated three key themes: (i) ‘A transformative space’, describing how the peer-led support group created a place to embrace change, learning and knowledge about suicide and suicide bereavement and the making of new connections; (ii) ‘An alternative space for belonging and grieving’, describing how the participants felt allowed to and could give themselves permission to grieve; and (iii) ‘A conflicted space’ describing how it was troublesome to belong to and participate in the peer-led support groups. In conclusion, despite the two cultural settings and different organizational approaches, the experiences were comparable. Peer-led support groups can, despite being a conflicted space for some, provide supportive spaces aiding the participants’ recovery process.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisbeth Hybholt & Agnes Higgins & Niels Buus & Lene Lauge Berring & Terry Connolly & Annette Erlangsen & Jean Morrissey, 2022. "The Spaces of Peer-Led Support Groups for Suicide Bereaved in Denmark and the Republic of Ireland: A Focus Group Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:9898-:d:885527
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eve Griffin & Selena O’Connell & Eimear Ruane-McAteer & Paul Corcoran & Ella Arensman, 2022. "Psychosocial Outcomes of Individuals Attending a Suicide Bereavement Peer Support Group: A Follow-Up Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Agnes Higgins & Lisbeth Hybholt & Olivia A. Meuser & Jessica Eustace Cook & Carmel Downes & Jean Morrissey, 2022. "Scoping Review of Peer-Led Support for People Bereaved by Suicide," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-12, March.
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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.

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