Abstract
It is estimated that between 36,000 and 360,000 people are affected by suicide every year in the UK, and a proportion may develop depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, or engage in high-risk behaviours. Recent systematic analyses have revealed a clear gap in research on suicide bereavement in minority ethnic groups. This study aimed to understand the experiences and support needs of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds bereaved by suicide and was the first in the UK to investigate this matter. The study was a secondary analysis of data. Participants were 7158 people residing in the UK who completed an online survey about their experiences of suicide. Free-text qualitative responses of 227 participants who did not identify as White British were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: maladaptive coping strategies, emotional processes following suicide, lack of support from agencies, and the importance of mental health awareness. Ethnic minority groups reported a lack of support despite attempts to engage with services, noted the prevalence of stigma within ethnic minority groups, and expressed a need to tackle this. These preliminary results suggest that ethnic minority individuals require visible and accessible services that can successfully engage with and support them.
Highlights
Every year, around 6000 people die by suicide in the United Kingdom [1] and it is estimated that between six and 60 individuals are affected by each suicide [2]
People bereaved by suicide experience physical and mental health issues, including a higher risk of attempting suicide and dying by suicide, developing depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and engaging in high-risk behaviours [4,5]
This study aimed to explore and understand the experiences of individuals bereaved by suicide in ethnic minority groups, in relation to support needs and access to support
Summary
Around 6000 people die by suicide in the United Kingdom [1] and it is estimated that between six and 60 individuals are affected by each suicide [2]. More recent evidence suggests that up to 135 individuals could be affected [3] and it is possible that the number of people bereaved by suicide every year in the UK has been underestimated. People bereaved by suicide experience physical and mental health issues, including a higher risk of attempting suicide and dying by suicide, developing depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and engaging in high-risk behaviours (such as substance abuse) [4,5]. In the UK, around 10% of individuals bereaved by suicide will attempt to take their own lives, whilst 8% will withdraw from education or resign from their job [6]. Suicide bereavement is considered to be a highly stigmatizing type of bereavement, limiting the help-seeking behaviour of those bereaved [7,8]
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