Support group intervention for survivors of suicide: An analysis of the changes in trend of participation and participant’s orientation to the group

Abstract

Intervention by support groups and self-help groups as a way to support survivors of suicide has attracted considerable attention. Based on the trend of participation and the score of analogue scale, the characteristics of the support group for survivors of suicide in which the author is involved are as follows: (1) While there are many female members, male members are few and, furthermore, they participate. (2) With the high interest in dealing with the suicide problem in recent years, the number of members with either acute or chronic grief is on the increase. (3) As the location of the meeting caused a change in participation trend, members may be sensitive to the context of the group. (4) Members’ hopes for the group changed as participation frequency increased. Members who participated continuously tended to share their own experiences or feelings rather than to seek someone’s help. (5) The reason that some survivors stop participating with the first session is not well understood, but it may be that those who don’t have clear motives for participating are likely to stop attending after the first

time.