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Surviving bereavement

  • Clinical Reviews
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Conclusion

If the joy and pleasure of intimate, caring relationships are accepted, then we must have the courage to grieve for their loss. Physicians and other helping professionals have access to the family at this critical time in the life cycle. This is an opportunity to influence the system, to be the “nonanxious presence” that promotes healing. To meet this opportunity, helpers need to invest of themselves and assist the bereaved to express powerful feelings in the context of a supportive environment. It is necessary to be aware of the increased health risks of the bereaved and prepared to intervene to prevent excess mortality. The outcomes of these interventions must be studied so the next generation of helping professionals will not have to learn by trial and error and personal experience.

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Author notes

  1. P. Richard Olson MD & Jan Sturgis BA

    Present address: Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Mountain Area Health Education Center Family Practice Residency Program in Asheville, North Carolina

    P. Richard Olson MD & Jan Sturgis BA

  2. Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, North Carolina

    P. Richard Olson MD & Jan Sturgis BA

Authors
  1. P. Richard Olson MD
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  2. Juliana Cooper-Goloenberg MSW
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  3. Jan Sturgis BA
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Olson, P.R., Cooper-Goloenberg, J. & Sturgis, J. Surviving bereavement. J Gen Intern Med 4, 259–262 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02599534

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