When suicide enters the family: Lived experiences of grief, stigma, and meaning-making in the Indian context

Suicide within a family creates a complex and often stigmatized form of bereavement, shaped by social relationships, cultural meanings, and moral interpretations of death. This study explored how suicide loss survivors (SLS) in India experience and make meaning of bereavement within their social and cultural environments. A convergent mixed-methods design with a qualitative emphasis was employed. Data were collected from 51 SLS through ten focus group discussions and three in-depth interviews, alongside standardized measures of psychological distress. Thematic analysis revealed that suicide bereavement is a multidimensional process involving emotional distress, cognitive disruption, bodily symptoms, and shifts in family and social roles. Experiences of stigma and moral judgment constrained open expression of grief and help-seeking, while cultural and religious practices provided comfort and meaning. These findings highlight the need for postvention approaches grounded in family systems, community structures, and culturally meaningful practices in the Indian Context.