When a child dies.

Abstract

The death of a child has a significant and far-reaching impact on all remaining members of the family. Each individual undergoes the process of bereavement, adjusting to this new and unwanted reality. The stages of this process include disorganization, the initial impact; the struggle of holding on/letting go, the lengthy period of keeping memories and certain aspects of the dead child, while relinquishing the child as a living member of the family; and reorganization, the integration of the loss into an ongoing life structure. Reactions to a loss of this magnitude often include a variety of normal and pathologic symptoms, some of which indicate the need for professional therapeutic intervention. In addition to professional help, there are numerous needs that can also be met by other family members, clergy, and support groups that facilitate the bereavement process. Importantly for the professionals in the service fields, the intense experience of these family members gives rise to problems and dilemmas in the helper, complicating work with bereaved individuals.