The Needs, Use and Expectations of People Bereaved by Suicide Regarding Online Resources: An Online Survey

Background: Online resources constitute a new and effective way to obtain support or information during bereavement processes. However, little is known about the needs, use and expectations of people bereaved by suicide regarding online resources. Method: The objective of our national cross-sectional online survey was to collect the use, needs and expectations of people bereaved by suicide regarding online resources. The data were collected from July to October 2021 through a 26-item online questionnaire hosted on the website LimeSurvey. Results: A total of 401 respondents fully completed the questionnaire. Their mean age was 45.7. The majority of participants were women bereaved by the suicide of their child or partner. Half of the participants were bereaved for less than 3 years and benefited from counselling during their bereavement process. Three-quarters of the participants used the Internet for their bereavement process, mainly to obtain information on suicide bereavement and suicide prevention and to access testimonies of other people bereaved by suicide. Three-quarters of the participants found that available online resources for people bereaved by suicide are insufficient and expected a dedicated web platform to be developed. Finding information on suicide bereavement and on suicide prevention, discussing with a mental health professional and accessing testimonies of other people bereaved by suicide were expected by a majority of the participants regarding the future platform. Receiving counselling and being bereaved by the death of a child were the most important factors in explaining patterns of use and expectations regarding online resources. Discussion: Our results offer precise insights into the needs, use and expectations of people bereaved by suicide regarding online resources. The development of web platforms offering access to reliable information on suicide bereavement and on suicide prevention to peers bereaved by suicide and help to seek counselling are urgently needed.

Automated summary

The study found that people bereaved by suicide have clear needs and expectations for online resources, wishing to access information on suicide bereavement and prevention, communicate with mental health professionals, and read testimonies of others in similar situations. They identified current online resources as insufficient and called for the development of a dedicated web platform to meet their needs.