A qualitative exploration of disenfranchised grief in men who killed a loved one while experiencing psychosis

Grief is a universal human experience; however, not all grief is socially acknowledged and supported. This qualitative study aimed to explore how grief is experienced by men who have killed a loved one while experiencing mental health difficulties. Six men who received treatment in a high-secure forensic hospital in the UK took part in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, which generated three superordinate themes: (1) Reconstructing my divided identity, (2) Navigating grief under restrictions, and (3) Living in the aftermath of the homicide. These themes reflect the disruption and gradual rebuilding of identity following participants' loss, the challenge of grieving while in a high secure hospital, and the ongoing struggle to make sense of, and live with, their actions. Findings highlight the role of moral injury, stigma, continuing bonds, and disenfranchized grief in shaping participants' lived experiences.