Citation

Andriessen K, Mowll J, Lobb E, Draper B, Dudley M, Mitchell PB. Death Stud. 2018; 42(10): 607-615.

Affiliation

School of Psychiatry , University of New South Wales , Randwick , NSW , Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07481187.2017.1415393

PMID

29364783

Abstract

Death of a relative or friend is a potentially disruptive event in the lives of adolescents. To provide targeted help, it is crucial to understand their grief and mental health experiences. Thematic analysis of 39 semi-structured telephone interviews yielded two themes: Grieving apart together, and Personal growth. High self-reliance and selective sharing were common. Feelings of guilt and 'why' questions seemed more pronounced among the suicide bereaved. There was strong evidence of personal growth, increased maturity and capacity to deal with personal mental health/suicidality. Despite its devastating effects, experiencing a death can be a catalyst for positive mental health.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; bereavement; death; grief; mental health; suicide