Abstract
"Aim: This study aimed to understand the impact of stigma on how parents cope with grief after the suicide of an adult child.
Background: Globally, 703,000 suicides occur every year; each one affects between 10-135 people. Studies have suggested that those who are bereaved by suicide are more likely to experience stigma that leads to complications during mourning Few studies have explored the influence of stigma in how parents cope with grief after the suicide of their adult child.
Methods: A systematic literature review informed the design of a longitudinal study that used a constructivist grounded theory approach. In total, 12 parents of adult children who had died by suicide were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at two time points between 2015 and 2016.
Findings: Three stigma-related processes emerged from the data: gaining awareness of stigma, hiding stigma and concealment of death, and surviving stigma to cope with grief. The following novel findings were observed; blame is averted from the deceased, acts of remembrance held specific significance and parents become involved in therapeutic activism in order to cope with grief and stigma and prevent further suicides.
Conclusion: Building on existing theories of grief and stigma this qualitative work informed the development of a new triple process model of stigma management in coping with grief after suicide."