The grief experience of suicide survivors

Suicide is significant problem in Lithuania, though experience of suicide survivors is barely researched. Results of the studies in other countries cannot be applied directly because of the cultural differencies, peculiarities of the attitude towards suicide anf grief in the society. Therefore the aim of this research is to reveal and describe grief and coping of suicide survivors. 23 adult persons who experienced the suicide of nuclear family member during the past two years participated. Semi-structured interview was used to gather the data, it was analysed by thematic analysis. In the results, there emerged the tendency to rethink the loss experience or, the contrary, to withdraw from it. According to this, we formulated five coping directions: three of them describe the tendency to rethink (Focus on Self, the Deceased, or the Loss), and two reflect the tendency to withdraw (Focus on People, or the Activities). Flexible ability to rethink the loss experience and to withdraw from it is crucial for the coping with grief. Inability to withdraw might be a cause for prolonged grief. Also, suicide survivors have a tendency both to avoid speaking and wish to speak about their loss experience. Avoiding speaking does not necessary interfere the coping with grief. It is purposeful to analyse coping with grief not as the separate constructs but rather as a holistic unit depending on the contexts of bereaved person, the surroundings, and the society