Someone is to blame: the impact of suicide on the mind of the bereaved (including clinicians)
This paper presents an emerging understanding of the psychodynamics of suicide loss, derived from over 1500 accounts of suicide bereavement shared by families, friends and clinicians. It identifies clear patterns in the responses of the bereaved, particularly the formation of delusional narratives t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469424000378/type/journal_article |
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| author | Rachel Gibbons |
| author_facet | Rachel Gibbons |
| author_sort | Rachel Gibbons |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents an emerging understanding of the psychodynamics of suicide loss, derived from over 1500 accounts of suicide bereavement shared by families, friends and clinicians. It identifies clear patterns in the responses of the bereaved, particularly the formation of delusional narratives that often place them at the centre of blame for the death. These narratives have a profound impact on well-being, increase the risk of mental illness and elevate the likelihood of death by suicide. They not only cause harm to the bereaved but also permeate and distort our systemic and societal responses. Understanding why suicide unleashes such painful and dangerous forces helps mitigate the widespread harm and distress that often follows such a death. This knowledge also enables us to effectively and compassionately support those bereaved. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-071ddadadd4c40ae9cb4020be1554f88 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2056-4694 2056-4708 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-071ddadadd4c40ae9cb4020be1554f882025-02-10T09:26:20ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Bulletin2056-46942056-47082025-02-0149364010.1192/bjb.2024.37Someone is to blame: the impact of suicide on the mind of the bereaved (including clinicians)Rachel Gibbons0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6989-8689Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UKThis paper presents an emerging understanding of the psychodynamics of suicide loss, derived from over 1500 accounts of suicide bereavement shared by families, friends and clinicians. It identifies clear patterns in the responses of the bereaved, particularly the formation of delusional narratives that often place them at the centre of blame for the death. These narratives have a profound impact on well-being, increase the risk of mental illness and elevate the likelihood of death by suicide. They not only cause harm to the bereaved but also permeate and distort our systemic and societal responses. Understanding why suicide unleashes such painful and dangerous forces helps mitigate the widespread harm and distress that often follows such a death. This knowledge also enables us to effectively and compassionately support those bereaved.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469424000378/type/journal_articleSuicidesuicide bereavementpsychodynamicssuicide losstrauma and stressor-related disorders |
| spellingShingle | Rachel Gibbons Someone is to blame: the impact of suicide on the mind of the bereaved (including clinicians) BJPsych Bulletin Suicide suicide bereavement psychodynamics suicide loss trauma and stressor-related disorders |
| title | Someone is to blame: the impact of suicide on the mind of the bereaved (including clinicians) |
| title_full | Someone is to blame: the impact of suicide on the mind of the bereaved (including clinicians) |
| title_fullStr | Someone is to blame: the impact of suicide on the mind of the bereaved (including clinicians) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Someone is to blame: the impact of suicide on the mind of the bereaved (including clinicians) |
| title_short | Someone is to blame: the impact of suicide on the mind of the bereaved (including clinicians) |
| title_sort | someone is to blame the impact of suicide on the mind of the bereaved including clinicians |
| topic | Suicide suicide bereavement psychodynamics suicide loss trauma and stressor-related disorders |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469424000378/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rachelgibbons someoneistoblametheimpactofsuicideonthemindofthebereavedincludingclinicians |