Interview Section : Healthtalkonline

Full list of topics

Before the suicide :
People’s perceptions of why the suicide took place
Suicide notes
GPs and psychiatrists

Soon after the suicide :
Finding out
First reactions-shock, disbelief, despair & relief
Changing emotions-sadness, guilt & anger
Seeing the body or not being able to do so
Telling children and young people about a suicide
Other people’s reactions
Family dynamics
The press and other media involvement
Police involvement
Practical matters

The funeral, inquest, burial or cremation :
The funeral or commemoration
Burying the body or scattering or burying ashes
The headstone or other memorial
The inquest
Reactions to the verdict

Sources of help :
Informal support - Family and friends
Help and support from professionals
Self-help groups, conferences and helplines
Help from Cruse Bereavement Care
Help and information through the internet
Coping with grief and keeping memories alive
Support for children and young people

Life now and a message to others :
Adjusting to life without the person who died
Anniversaries and other special occasions
Messages to others who have been bereaved
Messages to professionals and policy makers

Search the whole site
Search in this condition

Bereavement due to suicide

People's stories

Lost a friend

Ann - Interview 10

Ann - Interview 10

Age at Interview: 60
Sex: Female
Background: Ann is a literacy consultant. She is single. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

Brief outline:Ann’s friend died in 2003. It appears that her friend died from an overdose and exposure. Ann has found support through her faith in God, from counselling & from her GP. She has set up a support group for others, linked to SOBS. She finds this comforting.

More about me...

To watch or read an interview clip, click on the heading that interests you. Either a video,audio recording or text will open, depending on the clip

To close transcript boxes, click here
To print the interview’s text, click here

During the time her friend was missing Ann wrote a diary every day. It helped Ann to keep a hold on reality.
Print And you know, you do keep yourself together at that early time. Because, well I had to, there was no-one else. I could only deal with a lot of the things and I just, I just made up my mind that I was going to keep a hold on reality and I kept a diary [um] just so that I knew what day and date it was so that every morning I wrote down what day it was, what date it was and anything significant, you know, that happened, that I felt I needed to remember or whatever ... Hmm. … and that helped me to keep sane, I think.

Mail to a friend