John Whitebrook, a researcher in the UK, invited HUGG members to participate in a qualitative study of postvention issues faced by UK and Ireland adult males bereaved by suicide.

Based on ten interviews he found several postvention enablers and postvention barriers.  Postvention is a specific form of intervention which is provided after a suicide in recognition of the increased risk of suicidal ideation among the bereaved family, friends, and community. 

Below is a list of what is helpful to support men who are bereaved by suicide:

  • Provide information men can digest in their own time
  • Activities with implicit suicide bereavement support/informal support
  • Activities with a physical/outdoor component
  • Female accompaniment and lack of pressure to speak
  • Hybrid meeting (don’t have to walk into a room of mainly women)
  • Men-only suicide bereavement peer support groups
  • Overt encouragement of men to share their feelings, i.e. don’t reinforce stereotypes by leaving them to internalise emotions
  • Involvement in advocacy for bereavement charity

 

What is not helpful for men bereaved by suicide and poses a barrier to support is:

  • Pressure (real or perceived) to talk about emotions
  • Societal expectations of stoicism (internally or externally generated)
  • Feeling a responsibility to step in/fix things (in a mixed group)
  • Family support directed towards females
  • Female dominance in support activities (self-fulling prophecy)
  • Delegation of grieving to females
  • Can’t match what other men are doing e.g. ‘Three Dads Walking’
  • Men-only mental health groups not having a suicide bereavement focus
  • Financial constraints (prioritise others/females) – breadwinner role

 

We are grateful to John for his work in this space and for sharing these valuable insights with us.

We are also proud to launch HUGG Men, a dedicated suicide bereavement support group, led by men for men.  If you are interested in learning more about HUGG Men, please email support@HUGG.ie to speak with our telephone supporter who can answer any questions you might have.  If you are ready to join HUGG Men, fill out the form here: https://hugg.ie/join-a-hugg-support-group/