Spirituality and Religiosity during Suicide Bereavement: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Abstract

A loved one’s loss to suicide can be a traumatic experience and trigger a difficult grief process, identity changes, a loss of the sense of meaning and a spiritual crisis. Spirituality and/or religiosity (S/R) can be both an important resource and a source of stigmatisation during suicide bereavement. This study aims to synthesise the extant findings about S/R during suicide bereavement in qualitative studies. After an exhaustive selection of articles, the current review utilised a total of 484 citations and seven studies. A thematic synthesis yielded five major themes related to S/R during suicide bereavement: the need to be helped by the religious community without being judged; S/R-related experience of the deceased as a figure who continues to exist; S/R experienced without a conscious choice; conscious reach towards S/R themes; not relating to S/R during suicide bereavement. These findings indicate that the role of S/R during suicide bereavement is complex and varies from providing help to serving as a source of suffering. Hence, practitioners and religious communities should be mindful of the S/R themes during suicide bereavement.

Continuing Bonds after Loss by Suicide: A Systematic Review

“…The stigma associated with suicide in the context of religions may be particularly strong, with some bereaved individuals choosing to hold private ceremonies following a suicide death [ 27 , 28 ]. This is supported by a qualitative systematic review that found that religious individuals often isolate themselves due to feelings of shame and suicide-related stigmatisation emanating from religious doctrines [ 29 ]. Interestingly, taking part in religious ceremonies was common practice even in those participants who identified as agnostic [ 27 ].…”

The Role of Spirituality during Suicide Bereavement: A Qualitative Study

“…Studies reveal that higher religiosity and positive spiritual/religious coping are related to better bereavement outcomes [ 28 , 29 , 56 , 57 ]. The sense of presence and continuing the bond with the deceased as an outer figure can be helpful during bereavement to assure the existence of the afterlife with a hope to meet again and not lose the connection to the loved one [ 6 , 8 , 23 ]. Our study revealed an additional aspect of spiritual resources during bereavement being perceived as activated without one’s wish.…”

“…If a person is highly religious, the answers might be easier to find [ 24 ]. However, the questions and experiences also visit non-religious people [ 8 ], which adds the interdisciplinary phenomenon of spirituality to the psychological issues of suicide bereavement.…”

“…Spirituality and religiosity can be potential resources during bereavement after a loved one’s death [ 21 , 28 , 29 ]. The religious community can support the bereaved [ 24 , 25 ] if it withstands stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors [ 8 ]. The issues related to belief in the afterlife can be eased if a person has higher religiosity [ 30 ] or if the bereaved person perceives spiritual experiences as proof of the hereafter [ 21 , 22 ].…”

“…The issues related to belief in the afterlife can be eased if a person has higher religiosity [ 30 ] or if the bereaved person perceives spiritual experiences as proof of the hereafter [ 21 , 22 ]. Beliefs in the afterlife can satisfy the need to continue the bond with the deceased as a further existing figure [ 8 ].…”