Loosing someone as a result of suicide : A literature review of the kindred's perspective

Background: Each year, over one million people around the world die as a result of suicide. About 1500 of those are in Sweden. In each case an estimated six kindred’s are to be affected. These people are in great need of support. Despite this, research shows that nurses experience difficulties to support the suicide survivors. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe kindred’s experiences after the loss of someone close as a result of suicide. Method: In order to capture the kindred’s experience of losing someone close as a result of suicide, a literature-based study were chosen, where nine scientific qualitative articles were analyzed. Results: The results are presented in four different themes, and eight subthemes, which all highlights kindred’s experience of losing someone close as a result of suicide. The themes where to feel an overwhelming grief; to feel judged by others and themselves; to feel the need of support; that life changes. Conclusion: Being related to someone who has died as a result of suicide causes great suffering and a changed life-world. The following study shows that most suicide survivors don’t get the support they need after the suicide. A better understanding of the suicide survivor’s experiences may lead to improved care and support. To prevent the suffering and to support the kindred’s health process this study shows that a caring science way of caring is required. Thus it applies to each nurse to be open and responsive to each individual’s life-world and its ambiguit