1. The Role of Spirituality during Suicide Bereavement: A Qualitative Study
- Author
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Austėja Agnietė Čepulienė and Paulius Skruibis
- Subjects
postvention ,suicide bereavement ,spirituality ,religion ,religious coping ,spiritual coping ,Psichikos sveikata / Mental health ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Socialinės problemos / Social problems ,Suicide ,Lietuva (Lithuania) ,Religija / Religion ,Humans ,Female ,Spirituality ,Grief ,Qualitative Research ,Bereavement - Abstract
Background: A loved one’s loss due to suicide can be a traumatic experience and trigger a complex grief process. Although spirituality, defined as a search for the Sacred in a broad sense, can be a resource and an obstacle in coping with the suicide bereavement process, there is a gap in scientific understanding of the role spirituality plays during the process. Methods: To explore the role of spirituality in people bereaved by suicide, we recruited 11 women who lost a life partner due to suicide. We conducted semi-structured interviews and analyzed the data using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: We identified the following three themes: spirituality is a supportive resource that can be reached for or achieved without conscious involvement; spirituality provides helpful ways to cope with grief; spirituality makes the grief process more difficult. Conclusions: Spirituality, if personally meaningful and supported by others, can function as a resource after a loved one’s suicide and even add to post-traumatic growth after the loss. On the contrary, spirituality-related issues, such as stigmatization and a lack of personally meaningful traditions, can distress the bereaved. Difficult spiritual experiences and questions can become an intricate part of the grief process. Keywords: postvention; suicide bereavement; spirituality; religion; religious coping; spiritual coping.
- Published
- 2022
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