“Everything Changes”: Listening to Homicidally Bereaved Individuals’ Practice and Intervention Needs

Abstract

This study sought to understand how individuals bereaved through homicide (murder or manslaughter) describe their postevent experiences to inform clinical needs and promote mechanisms for change. A total of 21 participants (18 females) between the ages of 29 and 66 ( M age = 47.81 years, SD = 8.99) took part in this study. They were all participating in a residential program for homicidally bereaved individuals and were all residents in the United Kingdom. The sample comprised of 12 parents, five siblings, one partner, one daughter, one friend, and one grandmother of the deceased. The length of time since the bereavement varied from 12 months to 18 years ( M = 2.48, SD = 1.80). Thematic analysis was used to analyze the narratives collected. Three central themes emerged, namely (a) uniqueness of the experience, (b) changed self and world, and (c) mixed experiences of support. The uniqueness of the individuals' experiences was associated with the nature of the homicide event and the consequences that are unlikely to occur in "normal" deaths (e.g., judiciary). A sense of a changed self (e.g., ongoing emotional/mental and physical responses, coping) and world (e.g., changed beliefs regarding safety and criminal activity) seemed to be contributing to different shades of (mal)adjustment. Adaptive and protective strategies were identified. The current study with a large qualitative sample generated a unique, rich description/integration about individuals' journeys following an experience of homicidal bereavement. Findings are likely to inform policy and clinical practice by considering individuals' voices.

Self-perception of adaptation among homicidally bereaved individuals following a psychoeducational intervention: a UK longitudinal qualitative study

“…Approximately 45%–50% of individuals tend to respond resiliently and adjust to a non-violent death in the following 12 months. 1 Nevertheless, the unique circumstances of a homicide namely the sudden, unexpected and violent nature of the death, protracted legal processes, as well as the dual private and public nature of the grief processes 2 appears to leave individuals with an increased risk of developing severe and prolonged psychological difficulties. Family, social and professional issues may be other consequences.…”

“… 4 In terms of personal change, research has demonstrated that homicidally bereaved individuals tend to report changed self-perceptions and world-perceptions. 2 4 11 Those changes might include beliefs related to safety and trust, sense of an unfair world, powerless and greater awareness regarding criminal activity and how ordinary people (such as themselves) can be affected by it.…”

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Prolonged Grief Disorder in Families Bereaved by a Traumatic Workplace Death: The Need for Satisfactory Information and Support

“…Information about how the death occurred is needed to process the loss (74), yet authorities (regulators and criminal justice professionals) are bound by legal processes that limit their ability to provide timely information to families even when they want to assist (26). There are similar reports of conflict between families and authorities following homicide where a lack of information creates another pathway to distress (79, 87). Reed and colleagues (79) discuss the value of having counselors or victim advocates involved in interactions with the family from the outset so that authorities can continue with their investigations while the counselor/advocate can work with the family.…”

Psychological Interventions for Individuals Bereaved by Homicide: A Systematic Review

“…Homicidally bereaved individuals are at greater risk of developing severe and prolonged psychological distress and mental health impairments (e.g., Boelen, de Keijser, & Smid, 2015; van Denderen, de Keijser, Kleen, & Boelen, 2015) when compared with individuals bereaved by nonviolent losses (e.g., Kristensen, Weisaeth, & Heir, 2012). This may be a consequence of both, the particular characteristics of the homicide itself (i.e., sudden, unexpected, violent, and premeditated), and the unusual post-loss reality, which often involves protracted legal procedures and media attention (Amick-McMullan, Kilpatrick, Veronen, & Smith, 1989; Kaltman & Bonanno, 2003; Mezey, Evans, & Hobdell, 2002; Alves-Costa, Hamilton-Giachritsis, & Halligan, 2018a). Recent qualitative studies have found that homicidally bereaved individuals perceive profound changes in their views of themselves and the world post-homicide, which may contribute to ongoing psychological distress (Alves-Costa et al, 2018a; Alves-Costa et al, 2018b; van Wijk, Leiden, & Ferwerda, 2017).…”

“…This may be a consequence of both, the particular characteristics of the homicide itself (i.e., sudden, unexpected, violent, and premeditated), and the unusual post-loss reality, which often involves protracted legal procedures and media attention (Amick-McMullan, Kilpatrick, Veronen, & Smith, 1989; Kaltman & Bonanno, 2003; Mezey, Evans, & Hobdell, 2002; Alves-Costa, Hamilton-Giachritsis, & Halligan, 2018a). Recent qualitative studies have found that homicidally bereaved individuals perceive profound changes in their views of themselves and the world post-homicide, which may contribute to ongoing psychological distress (Alves-Costa et al, 2018a; Alves-Costa et al, 2018b; van Wijk, Leiden, & Ferwerda, 2017). Recent developments in the field have demonstrated that homicidally bereaved individuals are likely to report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; e.g., Rheingold & Williams, 2015; van Denderen, de Keijser, Huisman, & Boelen, 2016), depression (Rheingold & Williams, 2015; van Denderen et al, 2015), and complicated grief (CG 1 ; Rheingold & Williams, 2015; van Denderen et al, 2015, 2016), which can impact many areas of their lives.…”