Case study of a survivor of suicide who lost all family members through parent-child collective suicide

Background: South Korea is characterized by a high percentage of parent-child collective suicide. Aims: This case study explores one individual's personal experience as an adult survivor of suicide who lost his wife and his only son through parent-child collective suicide in South Korea. Method: The study reports data from a semistructured interview, which were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: Two themes were identified through the analysis of the narratives of the survivor. The first theme provides a detailed picture of the survivor's explanation of why the parent-child collective suicide occurred. The second theme examines how the participant experienced complicated bereavement after his heart-breaking loss of both wife and son. Conclusion: We discuss the importance of support from other people or grief experts for the survivors of suicide who lose family to collective suicide.