Cognitive availability of suicide following suicide bereavement

Bereavement by suicide has a devastating impact on many people including the deceased’s immediate and extended family, friends and colleagues. The overall focus of this thesis is on the impact a bereavement by suicide has on a loved one’s thoughts about suicide, including their feelings towards potential methods. There is particular emphasis on the concept of cognitive availability in relation to suicide. The thesis is structured in three parts: Part one presents a conceptual introduction focusing on suicide prevention by way of limiting physical access to means as well as limiting cognitive availability. From this, a gap in knowledge is identified in the way in which exposure to the suicide of a close contact impacts upon the cognitive availability of suicide and particular methods of suicide. Part two presents an original empirical exploration of 20 individuals’ thoughts related to suicide and methods of suicide having experienced a suicide bereavement. The results reveal that for many individuals the experience of being bereaved by suicide made suicide a legitimate option for themselves. Participants described a desire for reunion with the loved one, with suicide being a potential way of achieving this. However, there was an aversion to the method of suicide used by the loved one. The research was conducted as part of a joint project with another UCL clinical psychology doctoral candidate. Part three provides a critical reflection on the process of conducting this thesis, including adapting to a new way of online working during the Covid-19 pandemic