Bereavement-Related Needs and Their Relation to Mental Health Symptoms Among Adults Bereaved by Suicide and Fatal Overdose

Abstract

Despite the high prevalence of suicide and fatal overdose, and the morbidity associated with these forms of bereavement, little is known about the loss-related needs of adults bereaved by these two causes, including whether survivors’ needs differ from those losing significant persons to other forms of sudden death and how these needs may relate to psychiatric symptomatology. Using a newly validated measure (the Sudden Bereavement Needs Inventory) and an online survey design, the purpose of this study was to examine the needs of adults (N = 403) who have experienced the suicide or fatal overdose of a close other within the past five years, to compare these needs with those of individuals bereaved by a sudden natural death, and to explore how the importance of specific need categories relates to psychiatric symptomatology. Results showed great overlap between adults bereaved by suicide and fatal overdose across all bereavement need categories, with notable differences between these two groups and those bereaved by a sudden-natural loss (e.g., cardiac arrest). Further, among the suicide and overdose bereaved, the self-rated importance of specific need categories accounted for much of the variation in symptoms of prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress, and depression, with relational needs and meaning-based needs emerging as most strongly related to psychiatric symptoms. Study results may suggest the importance of addressing specific needs in therapy among overdose and suicide bereaved individuals to promote adaptive outcomes.