["So many questions and no answers"--the situation of the bereaved of suicide].

OBJECTIVE

Research of inpatient suicide is dominated by studies of epidemiology, predictors and prevention of suicide. In contrast, burden and needs of the bereaved are still not systematically evaluated.

METHODS

All relatives of inpatient suicides of depressive or schizophrenic patients in the years 1995 to 2004 (n = 20) got an invitation for an interview about the suicide, their burden and needs due to the suicide of their family member. 13 relatives could be contacted, 9 (69.2 %) bereaved family members could be interviewed. The recorded data were analysed using a summarizing content analysis.

RESULTS

Five relatives lost their child, two their spouses and two a parent. Four out of nine relatives suffer from ongoing feelings of guilt and/or restlessness due to the question, "why" the suicide happened. Eight caregivers had wished more initiative of supporting them from the professionals of the psychiatric institution, in which their ill family member was treated. Four relatives retrospectively assumed, that meeting other bereaved would have probably helped them.

CONCLUSIONS

Professionals of the inpatient suicide treatment team should be more proactive in offering the bereaved relatives possibilities to talk to them. Furthermore, support should be offered repeatedly, not only once when the relatives pick up the belongings of their lost family member from the clinic.