The other side of suicide loss: the potential role of leisure and meaning-making for suicide survivors

Publication Date

5-26-2020

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Annals of Leisure Research

Volume

23

Issue

3

DOI

10.1080/11745398.2019.1616572

First Page

322

Last Page

338

Abstract

Suicide rates are on the rise and subsequently more people, also known as suicide survivors, are left to grieve these types of losses. Yet, there has been limited examination and understanding of how individuals living through such experiences can potentially cope with and grow from this type of loss. Meaning-making through and engagement in leisure activities has been identified as a potential resource that may help individuals make sense of their lives and provide them with a liberating and healing opportunity. Therefore, the purpose of this conceptual paper is to identify the ways in which leisure may help individuals grieving suicide loss in their recovery, with a particular emphasis on how meaning-making and engagement through leisure may help to reinstate a more (a) joyful life, (b) connected life, (c) discovered life, (d) composed life, and (e) empowered life for suicide survivors.

Keywords

bereavement, engagement, leisure, meaning-making, Suicide

Department

Public Health and Recreation

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