Bereavement

As an illness progresses, a person, their family, carers and friends may experience intense feelings of grief associated with losses and the relationship changes that unfold. Following a death, most bereaved people do not require counselling or specialist support. General practitioners can help by acknowledging the experience of grief or bereavement and providing reassurance. A GP may identify people experiencing more severe or prolonged grief reactions and assist them to receive psychological support.

Resources for GPs

• Bereavement is discussed more fully in the palliAGED Evidence Centre and Practice Centre
• Guide to Bereavement Assessment and Support from BC Guidelines, Canada
• Following up the bereaved from CareSearch

Resources for the Bereaved

• Understanding grief
  Booklet from Palliative Care Australia
• Grief and loss information
  From Beyond Blue. Includes information about 24 hour phone and online support 
• Coping after the death of someone with dementia
  From the Dementia Australia website 
• Grief information sheets
  From the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

 Page updated 09 October 2019