NO TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
Surviving the suicide of a Loved One
by Carla Fine
A Main Street Book, Doubleday, 1997;
New York; pagine 252. US$ 12,95.

FULL TEXT (DOC)

Reviewing a rather dated book, in English, was prompted by the lack of Italian literature on "survivors" and tertiary prevention. Tertiary prevention or postvention is addressed to those who survive the suicide of an important other and are accordingly referred to as "survivors".

The extraordinary contribution by the New York writer, Carla Fine, derives from her personal experience as a survivor of her husband's suicide. The book describes the journey through pain and the growth experienced on overcoming grief. Ms Fine provides a lucid description of the facts, emotions, thoughts and initiatives marking her experience and those of other survivors she has had the opportunity to meet, listen to and interview over the years.

This book is the product of a bibliographic review and the description of her experience within a self-help group, which introduced Ms. Fine to a world where she subsequently made an important contribution; not only through this book, but also and above all through her work as spokesperson for the survivor population, all too often isolated in their pain and loss experience.

The book is divided into six parts. The first chapter ends with an aspiration: "…that this book will help penetrate the isolation surrounding the grief process of those who have lost a loved one to suicide". The second part describes her husband's suicide and the period immediately after, addressing the crucial theme of stigma. The following chapters consider the stages of grief, the condition of survivor within the family and in society, and long-term effects. In the fifth chapter the authoress describes the process of making sense out of the chaos accompanying the loss experience.

"…I have surrendered the secrecy that so defined my life after Harry's suicide, I have been able to reclaim my own sense of self, apart and distinct from my husband's decision to die". This book is an important contribution, testimony and vehicle of knowledge for all those who, directly or indirectly, have experienced grief for the suicide of a loved one.