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Hafford-Letchfield T, Hanna J, Grant E, Ryder-Davies L, Cogan N, Goodman J, Rasmussen S, Martin S. "It's a Living Experience": Bereavement by Suicide in Later Life. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127217. [PMID: 35742466 PMCID: PMC9223552 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bereavement by suicide for people in later life is significantly under-researched. Research on ageing and suicide has yet to address the experiences of those bereaved by suicide and how such a devastating loss affects the ageing experience. Objectives: We explored the substantive issues involved in bereavement by suicide and its impact on later life. Methods: This was a co-produced qualitative study. Peer researchers with lived experience conducted in-depth interviews with twenty-four people aged 60-92 years. A phenomenological approach informed the data analysis. Main Findings: Themes described included (1) moral injury and trauma; (2) the rippling effect on wider family and networks; (3) transitions and adaptations of bereaved people and how their 'living experience' impacted on ageing. Conclusions: It is important to understand how individual experiences of suicide intersect with ageing and the significance of targeted assessment and intervention for those bereaved by suicide in ageing policies and support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trish Hafford-Letchfield
- School of Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK; (J.H.); (E.G.); (L.R.-D.); (S.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Jeffrey Hanna
- School of Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK; (J.H.); (E.G.); (L.R.-D.); (S.M.)
| | - Evan Grant
- School of Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK; (J.H.); (E.G.); (L.R.-D.); (S.M.)
| | - Lesley Ryder-Davies
- School of Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK; (J.H.); (E.G.); (L.R.-D.); (S.M.)
| | - Nicola Cogan
- School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK; (N.C.); (S.R.)
| | | | - Susan Rasmussen
- School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK; (N.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Sophie Martin
- School of Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK; (J.H.); (E.G.); (L.R.-D.); (S.M.)
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Berring LL, Buus N, Hybholt L. Exploring the Dynamics of a Research Partnership in a Co-Operative Inquiry: A Qualitative Study. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2021; 42:818-826. [PMID: 33555962 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2021.1875275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Establishing a genuine partnership is a prerequisite when service-users become co-researchers. The practices of co-research challenges conventional scientific communities to rethink research processes and to learn to develop a genuine participatory research culture. This analysis investigated how a research partnership was created by exploring small group collaborative processes in a cooperative inquiry dealing with an interview study about psychosocial rehabilitation of elderly individuals bereaved by suicide late in life. The analysis highlighted how reciprocity can facilitate "epistemic user participation" and promote a research outcome that is co-created in a genuine partnership that reflects the perspective of service-users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lene Lauge Berring
- Centre for Relationships and De-escalation, Psychiatry Region Zealand, Slagelse, Denmark.,Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Niels Buus
- Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Susan Wakil School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Darlinghurst, Australia.,St. Vincent's Private Hospital Sydney, Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Lisbeth Hybholt
- Centre for Relationships and De-escalation, Psychiatry Region Zealand, Slagelse, Denmark
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Hybholt L, Berring LL, Erlangsen A, Fleischer E, Toftegaard J, Kristensen E, Toftegaard V, Havn J, Buus N. Older Adults' Conduct of Everyday Life After Bereavement by Suicide: A Qualitative Study. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1131. [PMID: 32636776 PMCID: PMC7316951 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The loss of a loved one to suicide can be a devastating experience that can have negative long-term effects on the social life and physical and mental health of the bereaved person. Worldwide, an estimated 237 million older adults have experienced suicide bereavement. As assumed in critical psychology, “the conduct of everyday life” reflects the social self-understanding by which people actively organize their lives based on their personal concerns, negotiation with co-participants in various action contexts, and their life interests. Bereaved people may change their social self-understanding as they adjust to their new roles and relationships in everyday life. The aim of this study was to investigate how older adults bereaved by suicide conducted their everyday life during the first 5 years after the loss of a loved one. Methods This was a semi-structured qualitative interview study carried out by a research team consisting of co-researchers (older adults aged ≥60 years and bereaved by suicide), professionals, and researchers. The team conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with 20 older adults bereaved by suicide. The interviews were audio-recorded and verbatim transcribed. The participants’ mean age was 67.6 (range 61–79) years at the time of the loss. Data were thematically analyzed through a “conduct of everyday life” theoretical perspective. Results We constructed a central theme, “the broken notion of late-life living” in that late-life would no longer be as the participants had imagined. They struggled with their understanding of themselves and other people in social communities when they pursued their concerns adjusting to their broken notions of late-life living. We construed three primary concerns: (1) seeking meaning in the suicide, (2) keeping the memory of the deceased alive, and (3) regaining life despite the loss. Conclusion The participants’ bereavement process was influenced by their stage in life. They perceived themselves as having reduced possibilities to restore their life project and limited time to re-orient their life. Age-related factors influenced their possibilities to pursue their concerns in order to adjust to their new life conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisbeth Hybholt
- Center for Relationships and De-escalation, Psychiatry Region Zealand, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Lene Lauge Berring
- Center for Relationships and De-escalation, Psychiatry Region Zealand, Slagelse, Denmark.,Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Annette Erlangsen
- Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Elene Fleischer
- NEFOS, Network for People Affected by Suicidal Behaviour, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jørn Toftegaard
- NEFOS, Network for People Affected by Suicidal Behaviour, Odense, Denmark
| | - Elin Kristensen
- NEFOS, Network for People Affected by Suicidal Behaviour, Odense, Denmark
| | - Vibeke Toftegaard
- NEFOS, Network for People Affected by Suicidal Behaviour, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jenny Havn
- NEFOS, Network for People Affected by Suicidal Behaviour, Odense, Denmark
| | - Niels Buus
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,St. Vincent's Private Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Hybholt L, Buus N, Erlangsen A, Fleischer E, Havn J, Kristensen E, Kristensen K, Toftegaard J, Toftegaard V, Berring LL. Psychosocial Rehabilitation of Elderly Persons Bereaved by Suicide: A Co-operative Inquiry Study Protocol. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2019; 40:382-390. [PMID: 30943061 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2018.1543742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Suicide is a major public health problem and there is a paucity of knowledge about the particular needs of people bereaved by suicide late in life. This study protocol describes a co-operative inquiry designed to collaboratively explore the needs for psychosocial support for this group and to use 'action circles' to develop and test psychosocial interventions. Further, it explores how the co-operative partnership influences the overall research processes. Data will be subjected to thematic analysis and discourse analysis. The protocol was approved in December 2016 and the study will take place between April 2017 and March 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisbeth Hybholt
- a Centre for Relationships and De-escalation. Mental Health Services Region Zealand , Denmark
| | - Niels Buus
- b Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.,c St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney , Sydney , Australia.,d St. Vincent's Private Hospital Sydney , Sydney , Australia.,e Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
| | - Annette Erlangsen
- f Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark , Denmark.,g Department of Mental Health , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.,h Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University , Canberra , Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lene Lauge Berring
- a Centre for Relationships and De-escalation. Mental Health Services Region Zealand , Denmark.,e Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
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