[The aftermath of suicide of a psychiatric inpatient - experiences in psychiatric hospitals with relatives as suicide survivors].

OBJECTIVE

In a first part we describe the situation of suicide survivors after the suicide of a family member in USA and Germany by reviewing the literature. In a second part we try to elucidate typical patterns of reactions and coping of relatives.

METHODS

On the basis of either own experience or from supervision cases, we try to elaborate reaction types of relatives of inpatients who committed suicide.

RESULTS

Relatives as suicide survivors show reactions from shock, disbelief, grief, guilt, self-doubt, anger and relief to accusation and threat of lawsuit toward therapists. An attempt is made to subsummarize these reactions in three preliminary categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Generally, relatives should be offered the opportunity of more than one common talk with the health care professionals. Postvention is preventive work, that aims at avoiding that the suicide survivors becomes a patient himself.