Nurse facing relatives who are left behind after suicide

The suicide is a complex phenomenon that causes confusion in the family and is faced as threat in the environment of hospital. Problems and changes in life are too many to cope. The complexity of the problem imposes total regard something of course that does not stop in the confrontation of people who commit suicide by the health services but it is continued to the follow-up and advisory to the relatives that experience the loss. The present review aims at the presentation of the way the relatives of individuals react, the problems with which they come confronted after suicide, how it should be faced the child that mourns and finally what is the role of nurse in front of that problem. Problems and changes in life of the person who mourns are many. Resistance to change, fear of the unknown and dread about dying are all natural. Perhaps it is the right time for also the nurse to embrace a philosophy that provides an enlightened outlook on living and dying. None of us has all the answers, but at least only our presence during the time of grief provides a rare and special gift of compassion. Survivors require varying amounts of support and stability, and as their circumstances change, so do their needs. Nurse has to focus directly on the one who is grieving as he pours out his feelings and vents his emotions. He also has to listen with his eyes and heart so the survivor feels that he has the complete attention and acceptance. The experience of suicide of a person of family makes the person feel profound guilt, shame, abandonment and regret and those have to be faced. It is necessary to give to the grieving person the right solutions such as to join a suicide support group who faces the same problems. This review aims to make nurses more sensitive, to support not only nurses who come face to face with death in their every day practice but also the relatives who survive after suicide in order to be ready to confront it.

Category: Volume 45, N 3
Hits: 700 Hits
Created Date: 15-09-2006
Authors: Maria Malliarou