Ethical dilemmas encountered in suicide research and management: Experiences of young mental health professionals

This study aimed to explore ethical dilemmas and challenges faced by young mental healthcare researchers and professionals working with survivors of suicide (hereinafter suicide survivors). Two focus group discussions (FGDs) Researcher FGD (with those engaged in suicide research) and Clinician FGD (with those providing treatment to suicide survivors) – consisting of open-ended questions and lasting for 70-90 minutes were conducted and analysed using Thematic Analysis. Five themes were identified: i) struggling with the incongruity of harm within benefit, ii) difficulty in delineating boundaries, iii) self-doubt in one’s professional competence, iv) nature of suicide straining the limits of confidentiality, and v) working with structural limitations. The study helps to understand the obstacles and dilemmas encountered in adhering to ethical principles while working with vulnerable individuals.

Peer Survivors of Suicide Loss: A Phenomenological Study

The ultimate sufferers of suicide are those left behind. The present study aims to explore, describe, and interpret the lived experiences of peer survivors of suicide loss. This study utilized the phenomenological research design. The participants were selected based on their having experienced the phenomenon of being a peer survivor of suicide loss. Ten participants with low resiliency and who were severely distressed volunteered to participate. Individual narrative stories and interviews were utilized to gather the qualitative data for this study. Common themes for the lived experiences of being a peer survivor of suicide loss are: being confused about the reported suicide; being stunned by the suicide; questioning the act of suicide; accepting the truth of the suicide; grieving the loss of a friend; accepting the death of a friend; finding solace from friends; and experiencing growth after the trauma. Forging connections with other peer survivors of suicide loss are part of the healing process. Thus, this study demonstrates the possibility of this connection in providing a basis for school suicide intervention and postvention programs for peer survivors of suicide loss in a supportive environment. There is a scarcity of studies on how suicide loss affects the survivors in the Philippines, specifically on the grief of suicide-bereaved emerging adults, as most studies focus on suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study contributes to the scarce literature on survivors of suicide loss in the country.

The American Association of Suicidology (AAS)

The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is America’s oldest and largest membership-driven non-profit association which aims to promote the understanding and prevention of suicide. After more than 50 years, the association continues to grow and provides a centralized hub in support of its mission and in service to the public and its membership. AAS brings together clinicians, crisis centres, prevention professionals, researchers, survivors of suicide loss, and suicide attempt survivors. The association programmes include an annual conference, a professional journal, training, and accreditation programmes, psychological autopsy training, and dissemination of resources and information. AAS recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals in the field of suicidology and presents awards annually for research, service, and career milestones. In recent years, AAS has increased its partnerships and collaborations with organizations whose missions and target audience overlap with AAS.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

In 1987, leading suicide researchers joined with families who had lost a loved one to suicide to form the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). It was established with the goal of advancing research necessary to understand and prevent suicide and has since evolved to include educating mental health professionals and the public about suicide prevention. Using scientific evidence to guide its prevention work, the AFSP aims to lower suicide rates, increase public and private resources available for suicide research and prevention, and develop and support programmes to assist survivors of suicide loss, through focuses that include advocacy and public policy. The work and influence of the AFSP on suicide prevention is presented here.

Do Primary Care Physicians Help the Bereaved With Their Suicide Losses: Loss Survivor Perceptions of Helpfulness From Physicians

Several previous studies suggested that primary care physicians can provide important bereavement assistance to survivors of suicide, yet no study has investigated whether suicide-bereaved patients perceive their physicians as helpful. Contacting bereavement communities on social media, we collected online survey data from 146 bereaved respondents reporting suicides causing them severe emotional distress. Data analysis suggested that nearly half (48%) of the respondents encountered positive, help-offering responses from physicians, compared to 10% whose responses were deemed as negative. Analysis of our data suggested that loss survivors’ perceptions of a physician’s helping or reproachful responses were associated with differences in grief difficulties and mental health distress.