When a close friend or relative commits suicide: the impact on mental health and social functioning of young adults
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Division of Psychiatry
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
- University College London (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- Camden and Islington Public Health (Collaboration)
- OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW (Collaboration)
- PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (Collaboration)
- Royal College of Psychiatrists (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Alexandra Pitman (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Achterbergh L
(2020)
The experience of loneliness among young people with depression: a qualitative meta-synthesis of the literature.
in BMC psychiatry
Aref-Adib G
(2020)
Assessing Digital Risk in Psychiatric Patients: Mixed Methods Study of Psychiatry Trainees' Experiences, Views, and Understanding
in JMIR Mental Health
Azorina V
(2019)
The Perceived Impact of Suicide Bereavement on Specific Interpersonal Relationships: A Qualitative Study of Survey Data.
in International journal of environmental research and public health
Bristowe K
(2024)
Between loss and restoration: The role of liminality in advancing theories of grief and bereavement
in Social Science & Medicine
Bristowe K
(2022)
LGBT+ partner bereavement and appraisal of the Acceptance-Disclosure Model of LGBT+ bereavement: A qualitative interview study
in Palliative Medicine
Davies J
(2022)
Young Peoples' Perspectives on the Role of Harm Reduction Techniques in the Management of Their Self-Harm: A Qualitative Study.
in Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research
Drabwell L
(2020)
Perceptions of the Use of Alcohol and Drugs after Sudden Bereavement by Unnatural Causes: Analysis of Online Qualitative Data.
in International journal of environmental research and public health
Eng J
(2019)
Use of Alcohol and Unprescribed Drugs after Suicide Bereavement: Qualitative Study.
in International journal of environmental research and public health
Galway K
(2019)
Adapting Digital Social Prescribing for Suicide Bereavement Support: The Findings of a Consultation Exercise to Explore the Acceptability of Implementing Digital Social Prescribing within an Existing Postvention Service
in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
| Description | Author of postgraduate training on management of self-harm |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | I updated two RCPsych CPD modules on the management of self-harm on the basis of a recent Cochrane review: • Casey P. and Pitman A. (2007; revised 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016) The Psychosocial Management of Deliberate Self-Harm: Part 1. RCPsych CPD Online module: • Pitman A. and Casey P. (2007; revised 2008, 2010, 2013, 2016) The Psychosocial Management of Deliberate Self-Harm: Part 2. RCPsych CPD Online module This has broad reach to UK and international psychiatrists, and updates them on the evidence regarding effective management of self-harm in terms of compassionate care and prevention of repeat self-harm. |
| URL | http://www.psychiatrycpd.co.uk/ |
| Description | Chair of conference symposium on self-harm |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | I organised and chaired a symposium at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Child and Adolescent & General Adult Psychiatry Faculty Annual Conference, Birmingham. 6 October 2016. The title was The management of self-harm. The symposium brought together practitioners, researchers and policy-makers in disseminating their work with direct relation to practice. |
| Description | Conference presentation on service development |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | I presented a poster at the Liaison Psychiatry Trainees, Nurses and New Consultants Conference, London. 18 November 2016. The title was: Service development in constrained times: designing and commissioning a new multi-disciplinary cancer psychological support service across 3 acute NHS trusts in South West London This disseminated our work in setting up a new multi-disciplinary cancer psychological support service to support people with mental health needs in the context of cancer |
| Description | Contributor to PHE commissioning guidance |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | as member of a Public Health England Expert Reference Group throughout 2016 I had responsibility for developing the draft suicide bereavement support framework and pathway as guidance for commissioners, as part of the suicide prevention strategy for England. This involved literature reviews, report-writing, committee attendance, and editing the final report. The publication was: Public Health England (2017) Support after a suicide: a guide to providing local services. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-after-a-suicide-a-guide-to-providing-local-services PHE publications gateway number: 2016392 |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-after-a-suicide-a-guide-to-providing-local-servic... |
| Description | Patron of Support After Suicide Partnership |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Patron of Support After Suicide Partnership - advising on the establishment of a hub service to provide advice to newly established bereavement support services |
| URL | http://supportaftersuicide.org.uk/who-we-are/our-patrons/ |
| Description | contribution to suicide prevention strategy implementation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | As a member of an expert reference group I contributed to Public Health England (2017) Support after a suicide: a guide to providing local services. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-after-a-suicide-a-guide-to-providing-local-services PHE publications gateway number: 2016392 - through my contacts with local public health leads I am aware that this has been used locally as a valuable resource |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-after-a-suicide-a-guide-to-providing-local-servic... |
| Description | American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Standard Grant |
| Amount | $99,819 (USD) |
| Organisation | American Foundation for Suicide Prevention |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 04/2019 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | ESRC/McPin |
| Amount | £69,568 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | Guarantors of Brain Entry/Exit Fellowship |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Guarantors of Brain |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2014 |
| End | 08/2015 |
| Description | Institute of Mental Health - The influence of peer self-harm on self-harming behaviour |
| Amount | £7,978 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Institute of Mental Health |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| End | 07/2020 |
| Description | Loneliness and social isolation in mental health: proposal for a network for cross-disciplinary collaboration and capacity development |
| Amount | £1,014,130 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ES/S004440/1 |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 05/2023 |
| Description | Marie Curie Research Grants Scheme |
| Amount | £200,934 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Marie Curie |
| Department | Marie Curie Research Institute |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 02/2019 |
| Description | NIHR RDS Enabling Involvement Fund |
| Amount | £350 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Department | NIHR Biomedical Research Centre |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | Royal College of Psychiatrists General Adult Psychiatry Faculty small grants fund |
| Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal College of Psychiatrists |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2014 |
| End | 08/2015 |
| Description | Advisory Board member |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Clinical academic member of the Project Board of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health, Manchester |
| Collaborator Contribution | The inquiry shares early versions of their annual reports and invites comments from the Project Board |
| Impact | Annual Report 2019 https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/ncish/reports/annual-report-2019-england-northern-ireland-scotland-and-wales/ |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Clinical academic member of a RCPsych Working Group: Effect of Patient Suicide & Homicide on Psychiatrists (EPSHP) |
| Organisation | Royal College of Psychiatrists |
| Department | Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| PI Contribution | to develop RCPsych guidance for psychiatrists, and a RCPsych conference on 6/10/21. Member of a sub-committee (with Dr Rachel Gibbons, consultant psychiatrist, Professor Keith Hawton, Director of the Oxford Centre for Suicide Research, Dr Deborah Dover, Suicide Lead for Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust; Prof David Mosse, Trustee of Haringey MIND, and Jacqui Jameson, RCPsych General Adult Faculty lived experience representative) to develop guidance and a podcast (25/09/20) on working with families bereaved by suicide. |
| Collaborator Contribution | development of a booklet and conference https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/members/supporting-you/if-a-patient-dies-by-suicide |
| Impact | booklet and videos https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/members/supporting-you/if-a-patient-dies-by-suicide |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Clinical academic member of the Camden and Islington Public Health suicide prevention strategy working group |
| Organisation | Camden and Islington Public Health |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | attending meetings; contributing to drafts of strategy, linking with NHS trust suicide prevention group |
| Collaborator Contribution | development of suicide prevention strategy |
| Impact | strategy for Camden and Islington Public Health |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Clinical academic member of the Project Board of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health, Manchester |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Clinical academic member of the Project Board of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health, Manchester: attending meetings, contributing to interpreting findings and communicating findings to public |
| Collaborator Contribution | Analysing an important dataset, dissemination of results; responding to key suicide research priorities. |
| Impact | contribution to review of key messages in annual reports eg https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/files/162072410/NCISH_Executive_Summary_2019.pdf |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Investigating suicide risk in specific occupational groups |
| Organisation | Office for National Statistics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I have established a collaboration with ONS for an application for a BMA Foundation Grant - the plan is to access coroners' data to identify key variables that might be associated with suicide risk in specific occupational groups. |
| Collaborator Contribution | I have gained guidance from ONS statisticians and researchers, and from Prof David Gunnell at the University of Bristol who leads on this project, in designing my grant application. |
| Impact | awaiting grant application outcome |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I collaborated with NCISH on an analysis of their data. Our study was published: Pitman A, Hunt I, McDonnell S, Appleby L, Kapur N. (2016) Support for Relatives Bereaved by Psychiatric Patient Suicide: National Confidential Inquiry Into Suicide and Homicide Findings Psychiatric Services epub ahead of print http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.201600004 |
| Collaborator Contribution | They agreed access to the data and their statistician Isabelle Hunt conducted the analysis. All authors reviewed the draft of the paper. |
| Impact | publication tweeted to NHS mental health trust presentation won 1st prize in 2016 RCPsych General Adult conference Pitman A, Hunt I, McDonnell S, Appleby L, Kapur N. (2016) Support for Relatives Bereaved by Psychiatric Patient Suicide: National Confidential Inquiry Into Suicide and Homicide Findings Psychiatric Services epub ahead of print http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.201600004 |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Public Health England |
| Organisation | Public Health England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | invited to join an Expert Reference Group to advise on the framework and pathway for national services for people bereaved by suicide |
| Collaborator Contribution | scoping meeting in March 2016 followed by consultancy |
| Impact | forthcoming PHE report |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | contribution to International Handbook of Suicide Bereavement Support |
| Organisation | Public Health England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Erlangsen A, Pitman A (2017) Effects of suicide bereavement on mental and physical health. Chapter 3 in Postvention in Action: The international handbook of suicide bereavement support. Ed. Andriessen K., Krysinska K, & Grad O. Lascelles K, Pitman A, McDonnell S, Elvidge H, Garnham H, Hawton K (2017). Help for people bereaved by suicide in England: development, current resources and future direction. Chapter 31 in Postvention in Action: The international handbook of suicide bereavement support. Ed. Andriessen K., Krysinska K, & Grad O. |
| Collaborator Contribution | worked with collaborators on the drafts for these chapters |
| Impact | dissemination of research findings in the form of a practice handbook. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | membership of trial steering committee |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Title: Safetel: Safety planning intervention with follow-up telephone contact to reduce suicidal behaviour Funder: MQ Research PI: Professor Rory O'Connor, Glasgow University Registration: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN62181241 Role: independent trial steering committee member 2017 - |
| Collaborator Contribution | joining trial steering committee meetings, reviewing documents |
| Impact | finalising patient information leaflets and trial protocol |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Conference presentation Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide Support Day - 2010 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Presented at the Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide Support Day 19 June 2010 Title - Measuring the impact of bereavement by suicide: the results of a pilot study with Cruse Bereavement Care and Samaritans Approx 60 attendees (all bereaved by suicide) with discussion open to floor after the talk and in all the breaks. Helped validate the coding used in the qualitative analysis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Role on voluntary sector committee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to join the committee of Support after Suicide Partnership (SASP): a voluntary sector collaboration of organisations supporting people after suicide bereavement. My role will be as an academic adviser on suicide bereavement research and practice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Royal College committee presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to speak at the Royal College of Physicians Joint Specialty Committee (JSC) for Palliative Medicine, London. 8 March 2017. I gave a presentation on: Psychiatric and psychological considerations in lung cancer. I highlighted the scope to improve mental health in this patient group, to assess and manage suicide risk and to consider restriction of access to lethal means of suicide. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Twitter activity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | tweeting as @DrAPitman re suicide prevention and mental health asked to give a radio interview for South Korean radio on World Suicide Prevention Day 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/drapitman |
| Description | University of Bristol presentation (Suicide and Self Harm group) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | University of Bristol Suicide and Self-Harm group: invited to Bristol to present on "The help-seeking behaviour of young suicidal adults: a national UK survey" 30 January 2014 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | blog for BMC Psychiatry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I wrote a blog for BMC Psychiatry at their invitation to publicise my recent research study on imitative suicide |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/bmcseriesblog/2018/03/05/understanding-and-preventing-copycat-suicide... |
| Description | lay dissemination of findings as leaflet Finding the Words |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I co-produced a leaflet explaining the findings of my qualitative research on how to respond to someone bereaved by suicide. This was funded by the Judi Meadows Memorial Fund and co-produced with a journalist bereaved by suicide. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://tasc-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/finding-the-words.pdf |
| Description | patient information leaflet - Finding the Words |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I co-produced a resource with a journalist bereaved by suicide, which has been distributed in hard copy form to IAPT therapists, teachers, clinicians and members of the public http://supportaftersuicide.org.uk/support-guides/finding-the-words/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://supportaftersuicide.org.uk/support-guides/finding-the-words/ |
| Description | poster presentation * UCL Brain Sciences poster symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Poster Presentation |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 31 January 2013: presented unadjusted findings of PhD - The impact of suicide bereavement: results of a national survey of young adults useful feedback on findings and interpretation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | radio interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio interview to mark World Suicide Prevention Day 2016 I was invited to be interviewed on 9/9/16 to discuss suicide prevention in South Korean and internationally. This was with TBS eFM Radio South Korea Primetime and is available online as a podcast http://www.tbs.seoul.kr/efm/Primetime (search on suicide awareness) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.tbs.seoul.kr/efm/Primetime |