Assistance from local authorities versus survivors' needs for support after suicide

As part of a larger study, this article describes the local authorities in Norway as providers of help and survivors as recipients of help after the suicide of a young person (<30 years) in 83 families. A questionnaire developed for this study maps the extent of professional community support as reported by parent survivors (N = 128). Additionally, 41 survivors described the quality of the assistance through in-depth interviews. Another questionnaire assesses the provisions and the organization of intervention strategies in local communities. Personnel in 321 of Norway's 481 municipalities responded. Although survivors' wishes for ideal support coincide with recommendations by experts in the field, local authorities lack the organization to fulfill such expectations. The discussion highlights issues relating to content, organization, and ideology of the assistance.