A Phenomenological Study on Vicarious Trauma Experienced by Social Workers Who Provide Counseling Services to Suicide Bereaved Families

The purpose of this study is to explore vicarious trauma experienced by social workers who provide counseling services to suicide bereaved families and to provide basic data for supporting and improving the environment for social workers in suicide prevention practice. Study participants were five social workers who work at suicide prevention centers and mental health welfare centers, providing counseling services to suicide bereaved families. Data collection was conducted through individual in-depth interviews, and the collected data were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological analysis method. The analysis revealed three main themes (‘bearing sadness together,’ ‘strengthening through mourning support,’ ‘joining in the transition from the one left behind to the one who sends off,’ and six sub-themes (‘creating a safe zone,’ ‘willingness to accept,’ ‘closely encountering the mourning process,’ ‘enduring,’ ‘adaptation and maturity, and ’being there for bereaved families’) related to vicarious trauma experiences of social workers providing counseling services to suicide bereaved families. Based on these results, this study discussed practical and policy implications for overcoming and supporting vicarious trauma among social workers providing counseling services to suicide bereaved families.