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Depression and Suicide Ideation among Suicide-Loss Survivors: A Six-Year Longitudinal Study

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  • Yossi Levi-Belz

    (The Lior Tsfaty Center for Suicide and Mental Pain Studies, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer 4025000, Israel)

  • Shai Birnbaum

    (The Lior Tsfaty Center for Suicide and Mental Pain Studies, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer 4025000, Israel
    Clinical Psychology M.A. Program, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer 4025000, Israel)

Abstract

Suicide is not only a tragic end of life but also may be the beginning of a very challenging life for those left behind. Suicide-loss survivors (SLSs) are individuals who were exposed to the suicide of a close family member or a friend and endure highly emotional distress. The psychological stance and reactions of SLS are deeply colored by painful, intense emotions that are expressed through different psychiatric symptoms, including depression and suicide ideation (SI). The present study investigated the long-term effects of interpersonal factors such as social support, self-disclosure, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness on depression and suicidal ideation among SLS. One hundred fifty-two Israeli SLS, aged 20–72, participated in this longitudinal study, during which their suicide ideation and depression levels were assessed at four points over six years (T1-baseline, and two (T2), four (T3), and six (T4) years after baseline). At the last time point, interpersonal factors were also assessed. SLSs’ interpersonal variables significantly predicted depression and SI levels beyond their usual trajectories over the years. Significant correlations were found between both perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness and depression levels at all measurement points. Moreover, thwarted belongingness was found to be a significant moderator of the relationship between former and current depression levels, as the contribution of depression-T3 to depression-T4 was lower among SLSs with low thwarted belongingness (b = 0.14, CI = 0.05–0.34) compared with SLSs with high thwarted belongingness (b = 0.25, CI = 0.22–0.45). These findings emphasize the vital healing role of interpersonal factors such as belongingness, as they may attenuate depression and SI symptoms over time. Hence, clinicians should focus on therapies that boost interpersonal interactions and belongingness, as they seem to be crucial stepping stones on the way to recovery. Moreover, national programs should be implemented to offer SLSs targeted interventions to reduce distress and depression in the aftermath of suicide loss.

Suggested Citation

  • Yossi Levi-Belz & Shai Birnbaum, 2022. "Depression and Suicide Ideation among Suicide-Loss Survivors: A Six-Year Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16561-:d:999016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yossi Levi-Belz & Lilac Lev-Ari, 2019. "“Let’s Talk About It”: The Moderating Role of Self-Disclosure on Complicated Grief over Time among Suicide Survivors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Yossi Levi-Belz & Tamir Ben-Yaish, 2022. "Prolonged Grief Symptoms among Suicide-Loss Survivors: The Contribution of Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Alan R Teo & HwaJung Choi & Marcia Valenstein, 2013. "Social Relationships and Depression: Ten-Year Follow-Up from a Nationally Representative Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-8, April.
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    1. Yossi Levi-Belz & Karolina Krysinska & Karl Andriessen, 2023. "What Do We Know about Suicide Bereavement, and What We Can Do to Help Suicide-Loss Survivors?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-5, April.

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