Is Suicide Bereavement Different?: The Experience of Support After Suicide

In recent years there has been discussion and debate on whether bereavement following suicide is somehow 'different' to bereavement following other types of death. This article explores these issues and brings to the debate the practice experience of Support After Suicide, comprising work with over 500 people. We take the perspective that the experience of bereavement following suicide has particular and complex features that distinguish it from other types of bereavement. This article addresses the impact of suicide on identity and sense of self including: the experience of failure; the importance of being aware of the impact of stigma; the search for an explanation; young people and developmental issues; the impact on the social network and family relationships; and the increased risk of suicide.