Citation

Maple M, Plummer D, Edwards H, Minichiello V. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2007; 37(2): 127-134.

Affiliation

Professional Studies, University of New England in Armidale, Australia, 3 Commonwealth/UNESCO Professor of Education in the School of Education at The University of the West Indies in St Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1521/suli.2007.37.2.127

PMID

17521266

Abstract

Suicide deaths are often viewed as sudden and unexpected. Research examining bereavement responses to suicide are generally set within this conceptual framework. Twenty-two parents were interviewed about their bereavement experience following the suicide death of a young adult son or daughter. Data analyzed using narrative methods revealed the concept of preparedness. Three distinct preparedness narratives were identified, termed turbulent-relief, tragedy, and reflective plots. The data presented here highlights the way in which these different situations influence the resultant grief. Understanding preparedness for suicide assists in explaining the variety of grief responses in parents bereaved in this manner.

Language: en