The mental health of visitors of web-based support forums for bereaved by suicide

Persons bereaved by suicide are reluctant to ask for social support when they experience feelings of guilt and blame. A web-based peer forum may provide a safe and anonymous place for mutual support.

This study examined the mental health changes of visitors of two online support forums for persons bereaved by suicide and their experiences with the forum over 1 year.

Visitors of two forums completed self-report measures at baseline and at 6 and 12 months' follow-up. Repeated measures analyses were used to study changes in well-being, depressive symptoms, and complicated grief. Additionally, participants were interviewed about their experiences with the forum.

The 270 participants were mostly female, low in well-being, with high levels of depressive symptoms and complicated grief. Suicidal risk was high for 5.9%. At 12 months, there were small to medium-sized significant improvements in well-being and depressive symptoms (p < .001) and nearly as much for grief (p = .08). About two thirds reported benefit from visiting the forum. Because of the pre-post design we cannot determine whether a causal relationship exists between the form and changes in mental health.

After 1 year some positive changes but a large group was still struggling with their mental health. Interviews indicate that the forum was valued for finding recognition.