Meanings of Loss Among Japanese Suicide Bereaved: Content Analysis of Open-Ended Responses1

Abstract

Although the importance of meaning-making among suicide bereaved has been reported, the detailed contents of the process remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the content categories of sense-making and benefit-finding in Japanese suicide loss survivors. We conducted content analysis of responses to open-ended questions in 99 participants. The results indicated that sense-making activities comprised seven categories, including Deceased was relieved from pain and Suicide is inevitable in modern society. Benefit-finding also comprised eight categories, such as Treat others with compassion and Live one day at a time with gratitude. The implications of the results are discussed in terms of sociocultural contexts of suicide postvention.