Contacting the Family After a Suicide*

Abstract

A two-part survey was conducted on psychiatrists' contact with the families of patients who have committed suicide. Families of suicide victims were surveyed to see if they had been contacted and whether they wished to be contacted. In one of the 12 cases, the psychiatrist initiated a contact, and in 11 of the 12 cases, the families wished they had been contacted. Reasons for the discrepancy between what the psychiatrists did and what the families wanted are discussed.