Bereavement by suicide in later life: Project Report

Losing a significant person because of suicide will have a major impact on those left behind. The experiences of people in later life who have been bereaved by suicide is an under-researched area. Given that later life can also be a time of major transition, opportunities and challenges, this study explored:
1. What can we learn about the experiences of being bereaved by suicide from those in later life who have lived experiences?
2. How does the experience of being bereaved by suicide impact on the individual in later life?
3. How do these experiences influence specific support needs and help-seeking in later life?
The study was conducted between November 2020 and June 2021. This coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and this short summative report contains the key messages from the overall research findings and based on these, its ten recommendations.