Bereavement

Abstract

The nature of grief reactions following bereavement are by now well documented, and as I have shown, have been discussed and explained from a number of theoretical and therapeutic viewpoints. Research initiatives have been able to identify some individuals and groups who may be particularly vulnerable when faced with the death of a significant other, and to outline those responses which may or may not facilitate recovery from the impact of loss. The observation that bereavement engenders acute distress, social and emotional disorganisation, and the possibility of longer-term debilitation, has led to a consideration of whether professional intervention should be provided in this context. Some attempts have been made to evaluate the degree of successful recovery where professional help has been made available to the bereaved, as compared to those who have not been offered similar assistance. Polak et al. (1973) and Kincey (1974) found no difference between those people who received help, and a control group who did not, in relation to their adjustment several months after bereavement.

For man’s greatness does not reside merely in the destiny of the species; each individual is an empire. When a mine caves in and closes over the head of a single miner, the life of the community is suspended.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Wind, Sand and Stars (1939)