Post traumatic growth among recent suicide loss survivors

Despite many studies of post-traumatic growth among suicide bereaved, information is lacking on recent suicide loss survivors. We investigated this with a diverse national sample of 1132 American adults, experiencing a suicide loss during the last six years. Bereaved reported on their post-traumatic growth, mental health, PTSD, depression, grieving difficulties, perceived stigma, suicidal ideation, and other mental health indicators. Findings converged with results from metareview articles based upon 11 and 21 studies of longer-term suicide survivors, showing better self-rated mental health, less perceived stigma, greater utilization of treatment resources, greater religious participation, more social support from friends and family associated with higher levels of post traumatic growth among bereaved, a year beyond their loss. Shorter term loss survivors experienced less traumatic growth, and greater perceived stigma. Regression findings reinforced the close association between post traumatic growth and reduced perceived stigma among these early loss survivors.