W. Walker, R. Horton, Jennifer Jones, J. Morrell, E. Roberts
The number of people bereaved due to the Covid-19 pandemic is a major health and social care concern. At a time of unprecedented demand on acute and critical care services, restricted family presence to reduce transmission of the disease had a profound impact on the way bereavement support could be provided in the hospital setting. In response, relatively rapid adaptions to practices were required. This paper provides inspiration and guidance on an acute hospital initiative designed to address the emotional needs of the immediately bereaved. The core features of a supported viewing service are presented through the lens of key employees who played a central role in its development and delivery, and with reference to the prevailing literature. Formal evaluation of the service through qualitative inquiry is recommended, complementary to anecdotal evidence of appreciative uptake of the service during the pandemic.
{"title":"Overcoming adversity: Insights into an acute hospital service of supported viewing for families bereaved during the Covid-19 pandemic","authors":"W. Walker, R. Horton, Jennifer Jones, J. Morrell, E. Roberts","doi":"10.54210/bj.2022.12","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54210/bj.2022.12","url":null,"abstract":"The number of people bereaved due to the Covid-19 pandemic is a major health and social care concern. At a time of unprecedented demand on acute and critical care services, restricted family presence to reduce transmission of the disease had a profound impact on the way bereavement support could be provided in the hospital setting. In response, relatively rapid adaptions to practices were required. This paper provides inspiration and guidance on an acute hospital initiative designed to address the emotional needs of the immediately bereaved. The core features of a supported viewing service are presented through the lens of key employees who played a central role in its development and delivery, and with reference to the prevailing literature. Formal evaluation of the service through qualitative inquiry is recommended, complementary to anecdotal evidence of appreciative uptake of the service during the pandemic.","PeriodicalId":44115,"journal":{"name":"Bereavement Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75548274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Loss of a twin unexpectedly in adulthood can leave the remaining twin feeling lost, devastated, and empty. The surviving twin can question the normalcy of these feelings and their response to the grief experience as compared to other losses. A literature review on adult twin loss followed by a review on sibling loss produced a sparse amount of information relevant to my questions. Both reviews centered around losses in childhood with little evidence of support for losses during adulthood. Guidance to assist with coping after this type of loss did not reveal specific coping strategies for the twinless twin. The coping strategies identified may be valuable for any person in their grieving process. The unique loss may benefit from future research on the most effective coping strategies. Grief therapists need further resources specific to singleton grief. Further research and clinical work would improve grief experiences during adult twin loss.
{"title":"The uniqueness of twin loss and grief","authors":"Joan M. Creed","doi":"10.54210/bj.2022.8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54210/bj.2022.8","url":null,"abstract":"Loss of a twin unexpectedly in adulthood can leave the remaining twin feeling lost, devastated, and empty. The surviving twin can question the normalcy of these feelings and their response to the grief experience as compared to other losses. A literature review on adult twin loss followed by a review on sibling loss produced a sparse amount of information relevant to my questions. Both reviews centered around losses in childhood with little evidence of support for losses during adulthood. Guidance to assist with coping after this type of loss did not reveal specific coping strategies for the twinless twin. The coping strategies identified may be valuable for any person in their grieving process. The unique loss may benefit from future research on the most effective coping strategies. Grief therapists need further resources specific to singleton grief. Further research and clinical work would improve grief experiences during adult twin loss.","PeriodicalId":44115,"journal":{"name":"Bereavement Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77573809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stillbirth, the loss of a baby during pregnancy or childbirth, is one of the most devastating losses a parent can experience. The experience of stillbirth is associated with trauma and intense grief, but mothers’ belief systems can be protective against the impacts of grief. Women in Nigeria endure a high burden of stillbirth and the aim in this study was to describe the beliefs and strategies for coping with stillbirth. Twenty mothers bereaved by stillbirth in Nigeria were interviewed; seven of them also participated in a focus group. The findings of the study revealed that the experience of stillbirth was influenced by beliefs which originated from superstitions, religion, and social expectations. These beliefs played significant roles in how mothers coped with the loss, by providing them with a framework for sense-making and benefit-finding.
{"title":"Beliefs and strategies for coping with stillbirth: A qualitative study in Nigeria","authors":"Tosin Popoola, J. Skinner, M. Woods","doi":"10.54210/bj.2022.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54210/bj.2022.10","url":null,"abstract":"Stillbirth, the loss of a baby during pregnancy or childbirth, is one of the most devastating losses a parent can experience. The experience of stillbirth is associated with trauma and intense grief, but mothers’ belief systems can be protective against the impacts of grief. Women in Nigeria endure a high burden of stillbirth and the aim in this study was to describe the beliefs and strategies for coping with stillbirth. Twenty mothers bereaved by stillbirth in Nigeria were interviewed; seven of them also participated in a focus group. The findings of the study revealed that the experience of stillbirth was influenced by beliefs which originated from superstitions, religion, and social expectations. These beliefs played significant roles in how mothers coped with the loss, by providing them with a framework for sense-making and benefit-finding.","PeriodicalId":44115,"journal":{"name":"Bereavement Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72923207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yvonne Eaton-Stull, J. Hotchkiss, Jane E. Jones, Francine Lilien
Grief is a universal experience; however not everyone experiences grief and loss in the same way. People who are incarcerated are often informed of losses via phone, are unable to attend funeral services or participate in supportive rituals, and can have difficulty expressing feelings in a place where showing emotion can be dangerous. Being unable to obtain support and process grief and loss may contribute to impaired functioning. In this study of bereavement support for women in prison, incarcerated women with recent or unresolved losses (n=32) were randomly assigned to grief support groups with therapy dogs (animal-assisted, AA) or without therapy dogs (non-AA). Pre- and post-test measures of bereavement symptoms and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) were obtained. This study shows that AA groups had more significant decreases in symptoms, lower rates of post-group diagnostic criteria for PGD and higher rates of perceived support/benefit from the groups.
{"title":"Bereavement behind bars: Grief support groups with and without therapy dogs for incarcerated females","authors":"Yvonne Eaton-Stull, J. Hotchkiss, Jane E. Jones, Francine Lilien","doi":"10.54210/bj.2022.13","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54210/bj.2022.13","url":null,"abstract":"Grief is a universal experience; however not everyone experiences grief and loss in the same way. People who are incarcerated are often informed of losses via phone, are unable to attend funeral services or participate in supportive rituals, and can have difficulty expressing feelings in a place where showing emotion can be dangerous. Being unable to obtain support and process grief and loss may contribute to impaired functioning. In this study of bereavement support for women in prison, incarcerated women with recent or unresolved losses (n=32) were randomly assigned to grief support groups with therapy dogs (animal-assisted, AA) or without therapy dogs (non-AA). Pre- and post-test measures of bereavement symptoms and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) were obtained. This study shows that AA groups had more significant decreases in symptoms, lower rates of post-group diagnostic criteria for PGD and higher rates of perceived support/benefit from the groups.","PeriodicalId":44115,"journal":{"name":"Bereavement Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81482040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"How was your lockdown?","authors":"J. Samuel","doi":"10.54210/bj.2022.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54210/bj.2022.9","url":null,"abstract":"No abstract","PeriodicalId":44115,"journal":{"name":"Bereavement Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89249386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Introducing Bereavement: journal of grief and responses to death","authors":"C. Pearce","doi":"10.54210/bj.2022.17","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.54210/bj.2022.17","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":44115,"journal":{"name":"Bereavement Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78298240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-09-01DOI: 10.1080/02682621.2020.1828722
A. Dyregrov, K. Dyregrov, Martin Lytje
Abstract Each year, thousands of British schoolchildren experience the loss of a loved one. In this trying time, it is vital that school staff have a good understanding of how to offer support. Sadly, many school staff struggle with how to provide support and in what form. Based on experiences from Scandinavia, in this article we provide guidelines and practical advice for the forms of support which we consider beneficial. In cases of anticipated losses, the school can do its utmost to collaborate with the home and student in order to ensure efficient communication and good student care. Following a loss, the school should work to provide a caring climate that makes it easier to return to class. We recommend making most decisions in collaboration with the bereaved children in order to ensure they receive support they themselves find beneficial.
{"title":"Loss in the family – A reflection on how schools can support their students","authors":"A. Dyregrov, K. Dyregrov, Martin Lytje","doi":"10.1080/02682621.2020.1828722","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02682621.2020.1828722","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Each year, thousands of British schoolchildren experience the loss of a loved one. In this trying time, it is vital that school staff have a good understanding of how to offer support. Sadly, many school staff struggle with how to provide support and in what form. Based on experiences from Scandinavia, in this article we provide guidelines and practical advice for the forms of support which we consider beneficial. In cases of anticipated losses, the school can do its utmost to collaborate with the home and student in order to ensure efficient communication and good student care. Following a loss, the school should work to provide a caring climate that makes it easier to return to class. We recommend making most decisions in collaboration with the bereaved children in order to ensure they receive support they themselves find beneficial.","PeriodicalId":44115,"journal":{"name":"Bereavement Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/02682621.2020.1828722","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59272899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-09-01DOI: 10.1080/02682621.2020.1828771
D. Kerslake
Colin Murray Parkes with Cruse patron Her Majesty the Queen at St James Palace, celebrating Cruse’s 60th anniversary I was honoured to be asked to write something at this time, as Colin steps down ...
{"title":"Bereavement Care – Tribute to Colin Murray Parkes","authors":"D. Kerslake","doi":"10.1080/02682621.2020.1828771","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02682621.2020.1828771","url":null,"abstract":"Colin Murray Parkes with Cruse patron Her Majesty the Queen at St James Palace, celebrating Cruse’s 60th anniversary I was honoured to be asked to write something at this time, as Colin steps down ...","PeriodicalId":44115,"journal":{"name":"Bereavement Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/02682621.2020.1828771","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47045736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-09-01DOI: 10.1080/02682621.2020.1828724
C. Gillis, Venesa Wheatley, Ashley Jones, Brenda Roland, Marlyn Gill, N. Marlett, Svetlana Shklarov
Abstract Our objective was to explore parents’ experiences of stillbirth using a patient-led qualitative approach, in the Canadian context. Parents who had experienced stillbirth in the previous five years were recruited through posters and snowball sampling. We conducted a co-design focus group to set the direction of our research, narrative interviews, and a reflect focus group to engage parents in finalizing the analysis and findings. Data was analysed iteratively using a participatory approach with grounded theory principles. Our findings highlight that stillbirth is a story of death, but it is also a story of life. Parents (n=11) require the space to experience both the birth and death elements of the story; yet, one or both elements are often silenced. Stillbirth, still life was the core concept that emerged from parents’ stories of their stillborn babies. Parents’ narratives are driven by the need to honour their babies’ lives. They are learning to be unsilenced.
{"title":"Stillbirth, still life: A qualitative patient-led study on parents’ unsilenced stories of stillbirth","authors":"C. Gillis, Venesa Wheatley, Ashley Jones, Brenda Roland, Marlyn Gill, N. Marlett, Svetlana Shklarov","doi":"10.1080/02682621.2020.1828724","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02682621.2020.1828724","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Our objective was to explore parents’ experiences of stillbirth using a patient-led qualitative approach, in the Canadian context. Parents who had experienced stillbirth in the previous five years were recruited through posters and snowball sampling. We conducted a co-design focus group to set the direction of our research, narrative interviews, and a reflect focus group to engage parents in finalizing the analysis and findings. Data was analysed iteratively using a participatory approach with grounded theory principles. Our findings highlight that stillbirth is a story of death, but it is also a story of life. Parents (n=11) require the space to experience both the birth and death elements of the story; yet, one or both elements are often silenced. Stillbirth, still life was the core concept that emerged from parents’ stories of their stillborn babies. Parents’ narratives are driven by the need to honour their babies’ lives. They are learning to be unsilenced.","PeriodicalId":44115,"journal":{"name":"Bereavement Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/02682621.2020.1828724","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47747013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-09-01DOI: 10.1080/02682621.2020.1828770
Clare Wakenshaw
Abstract Working with young children, Donald Winnicott (1951) identified transitional objects as items which were both created and discovered by an infant for comfort, and to support the developmental necessity of separating from their primary caregiver. In adulthood, the keeping and holding of a physical object, for example a piece of jewellery owned by a loved one who has died, is frequently seen as supportive for bereaved people but is rarely named or conceptualised as a transitional object. Taking an object relations perspective, the aim of this review will be to consider research and literature within bereavement theory and practice in order to suggest how transitional objects can be conceptualised in grief work across all life stages. Examples from research and the authors own therapeutic practice will be shared in order to suggest ways in which the use of transitional objects can support therapeutic practice with bereaved people.
{"title":"The use of Winnicott’s concept of transitional objects in bereavement practice","authors":"Clare Wakenshaw","doi":"10.1080/02682621.2020.1828770","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02682621.2020.1828770","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Working with young children, Donald Winnicott (1951) identified transitional objects as items which were both created and discovered by an infant for comfort, and to support the developmental necessity of separating from their primary caregiver. In adulthood, the keeping and holding of a physical object, for example a piece of jewellery owned by a loved one who has died, is frequently seen as supportive for bereaved people but is rarely named or conceptualised as a transitional object. Taking an object relations perspective, the aim of this review will be to consider research and literature within bereavement theory and practice in order to suggest how transitional objects can be conceptualised in grief work across all life stages. Examples from research and the authors own therapeutic practice will be shared in order to suggest ways in which the use of transitional objects can support therapeutic practice with bereaved people.","PeriodicalId":44115,"journal":{"name":"Bereavement Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/02682621.2020.1828770","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47088253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}