Essay - Effects of Sudden, Traumatic Death of a Family Member on...

Effects of Sudden, Traumatic Death of a Family Member on Other Family Members

Benasutti looks at the effects ***** sudden, traum*****ic death of a family member on the rest of ***** family, noting that under these circumstances the process ***** grief and bereavement is more complicated. She looks at the factors that make such an experience more difficult to cope with than ***** death of a loved one under less trying circumst*****nces.

She notes that when a loved ***** dies in a ***** ***** traumatic way, the family ***** left in shock and chaos, and that such deaths present therapeutic *****ies. Because of the circumstances surrounding the death, she calls the family *****s "co-victims." Although those who have *****d the loss realize ***** o*****rs have suffered losses too, the circumstances of their loss sets ***** experiences somewhat apart from grief friends may have experienced. This can leave surviving families feeling quite alone. The authors give examples, such as the widow of a minister who told his wife he w***** going to t***** p*****rk, bu***** who instead jumped off a bridge to his death. She gives specific examples of the kind of extra obstacles such people have to overcome as they learn to come ***** grips with their ***** and loss under complex *****.

***** ***** that losing a loved one under such circumst*****nces can be ***** by the beliefs others ***** hold. For instance, friends may think that after a certain period of time a person should be "d***** grieving," but ***** sudden and traumatic ***** takes longer to come to grips with.

She emphasizes that grief is not a short, ***** event, but ***** process with stages and something loved ones must work through. The best conclusion for grief ***** to remember the lost loved one, ***** ***** with ***** changes brought the family by his or her lost, and to find new *****s to lead a fulfilling life *****fter ***** loss.

Imperio looks at steps medical doct*****s might take to help prevent suicide. ***** author notes that suicide is a m*****jor health issue in the United States, and that while 30,000 thousand successfully complete ***** every year ***** this country, another 650,000 people attempt it. Suicide is a serious public ***** issue. Bec*****use of this, the Surgeon General, David Satcher has spoken out about the importance of identifying those at risk of suicide so effective interventions can be used, emphasizing th***** early detection is important.

Imperio notes that while research has been done on identifying those

With suicidal tendencies, ***** work has ***** done regarding what are the most effective treatment regimes ***** such people. Because of th*****, psychiatrists and *****rapists don't really know which *****erapies are most effective, or under what circumstances and ***** whom ***** should be used. Until there is more empirical evidence, Imperio suggests that therapists ***** psychiatrists look closely at what they're doing with each patient or client ***** assess how well it is working.

The author notes that some headway ***** been