Grief in young people: Understanding the experience of losing a friend to suicide during adolescence or young adulthood

Abstract

In the growing body of research in the field of suicide bereavement, there is limited understanding of the grief experience of young people following suicide death. This paper presents findings from a small study of young people who were aged 16 to 24 years when they experienced the death of a friend (or friends) through suicide. The time period between the death and the interview ranged from one to eight years. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to explore the psychological factors and health behaviors of this sample of young people. Quantitative results indicated depression, stress and anxiety among these young people, although none fully met all criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder. Qualitative data revealed themes centered around guilt, avoidant coping strategies, significantly increased risk taking behaviors and insecurity in relationships. The impacts on normal development are discussed together with a recommendation that postvention support for young people should be considered a priority for suicide prevention activities.