Written evidence from the Matthew Elvidge Trust (SPR0177)

1. Suicide risk for people bereaved by suicide*

• People bereaved by suicide are significantly more likely to attempt suicide than those bereaved by other types of death
• If you are bereaved by suicide, you are at the same risk whether you are related to the person who died or not
• Feelings of stigma are a key part of suicidal outcomes in those bereaved by suicide
• The odds are 65% higher, that someone bereaved by suicide will attempt to take their life
• 9% of those bereaved by suicide reported they attempted to take their own life (56 out of 614)

 * Source: Pitman 2016, BMJ Open

Pitman, D.P.J. Osborn, K. Rantell, M.B. King, Bereavement by suicide as a risk factor for suicide attempt: a cross-sectional national UK-wide study of 3432 young bereaved adults, BMJ Open (2016).

2. Support for people bereaved by suicide

Two thirds of people in the UK bereaved by suicide receive no formal support from health or mental health services....or voluntary sector, employers or education providers.*

* Source: PHE – Support after a suicide: A guide to providing local service