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Exploring the Impact of Suicide Attempts on the Bereavement Journey of Those Who UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Exploring the Impact of Suicide Attempts on the Bereavement Journey of Those Who Have Experienced a Loss due to Suicide by Kimberly Everingham A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK CALGARY, ALBERTA JULY, 2011 © Kimberly Everingham 2011 Library and Archives Bibliothèque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l'édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-81892-3 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-81892-3 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l'Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans le loan, distrbute and sell theses monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non- support microforme, papier, électronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriété du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette thèse. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la thèse ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent être imprimés ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformément à la loi canadienne sur la Privacy Act some supporting forms protection de la vie privée, quelques may have been removed from this formulaires secondaires ont été enlevés de thesis. cette thèse. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n'y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. Abstract This research study used descriptive phenomenological methodology to explore the impact of previous suicide attempts on the bereavement journey for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Given the prevalence of suicide and suicide related behaviours in our communities, understanding how suicide impacts support systems is important in order to provide appropriate and necessary support to those support systems. The participants in this study presented mental illness, suicide attempts, treatment, and relationships with their loved ones as key influencing factors on their grief journey. This thesis provides a basis for professionals to understand the significance of suicide attempts for support systems so that the support systems can be themselves supported. ii Acknowledgements Words can not begin to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Margaret Williams for her support, guidance, and wisdom. Without her, I am not sure I would have moved past the desire to write a thesis and into the actual doing part. Her encouragement and challenges helped me persevere. Thank-you. I want to thank my family. Michael, you have been supportive and encouraging throughout this whole adventure. Olivia and Quinn, you have spent your whole life knowing I need time to write my thesis, now it is done. Now I do not have to think about my thesis when we are playing in the park. Without the support of my mother-in-law, Marj, who was always happy to look after the kids so I could work, study, and brood about finishing this thesis would have taken years longer to write. Thanks to my parents, Bill and Beryl, for their loving support. I also want to thank Pat Kostouros who has helped me through so many things over the years, and this thesis is just another to add to the list. Thank-you for being my sounding board and such a good friend. Finally, thanks to all of my friends and colleagues who have supported, encouraged, and challenged me. Your support has not gone unnoticed. iii Dedication ! This thesis would not have been possible without the four participants, Margaret, Jude, Matthew, and Hope. Thank you for your trust and courage to share your experiences. This thesis is written in memory of my loving grandparents, Roy and Ann Pottinger. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .............................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................iii Dedication ........................................................................................................................iv Table of Contents ...............................................................................................................v List of Figures ..................................................................................................................ix Chapter One: Personal Journey .........................................................................................1 Chapter Two: Literature Review .......................................................................................4 Prominent Theories in Grief Work .........................................................................4 Common Themes in Suicide Bereavement ............................................................7 Stigma ........................................................................................................9 Trauma .....................................................................................................13 Intense feelings ........................................................................................14 Suicide attempts .......................................................................................18 Uniqueness Disputed ............................................................................................21 Conclusion ............................................................................................................24 Chapter Three: Methodology ..........................................................................................27 Choosing a methodology .....................................................................................27 Modified descriptive phenomenological methodology ........................................31 Phenomenological reduction ....................................................................32 Chapter Four: The Research Design ................................................................................38 Sampling ...............................................................................................................38 Trustworthiness ....................................................................................................41 v Credibility ................................................................................................41 Transferability ..........................................................................................43 Dependability ...........................................................................................43 Confirmability ..........................................................................................44 Bracketing ................................................................................................44 Transcribing data ......................................................................................47 Analysis ....................................................................................................47 Chapter Five: Introduction of Participants ......................................................................50 Margaret ...............................................................................................................50 Jude .......................................................................................................................52 Hope .....................................................................................................................52 Matthew ................................................................................................................54 Chapter Six: Findings ......................................................................................................56 Figure 6.1: Map of Meaning Units and Constituents ...........................................56 Mental Illness .......................................................................................................57 Comprehension of mental illness .............................................................58 Stigma ......................................................................................................60 Isolation ....................................................................................................62 Mental health of participant .....................................................................63 Suicide Attempts ..................................................................................................65 Stigma ......................................................................................................65 Isolation ....................................................................................................67
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