Abstract
Health-workers are more likely to die by suicide than their counterparts in other occupational groups. The suicide of a staff member can be widely felt by colleagues, leading to complex emotional and cognitive responses. Exposure to suicide heightens the risk of dying by suicide. We investigated the impact of a colleague suicide on National Health Service (NHS) staff. Twenty-nine staff were interviewed; all participants were white British, and so not representative of the ethnic make-up of the NHS. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methods. A theory, “filling in the gaps” was developed. Staff experiences gave rise to needs that were not always met. Staff endeavoured to “fill in the gaps” in support; however, sometimes fell through those gaps. Organizational and professional contexts shaped their experiences and responses. Recommendations include skilled and targeted support and compassion for affected staff. Cultural change is needed to challenge suicide stigma and unhelpful narratives.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Death studies |
Early online date | 11 Apr 2024 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 11 Apr 2024 |
Bibliographical note
This research was funded by NIHR HS&DR grant number 129341. Carolyn Chew-Graham is part funded by West Midlands ARC (Applied Research Collaboration)ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Health Professions