Effective Grief and Bereavement Support
by Kari Dyregrov and Atle Dyregrov
Paperback
Price: £19.99
Publisher:Jessica Kingsley Publishers from Gardners Books
Published:15 August 2008
ISBN:978-1-843-10667-8
GoodBookStall Review:
This very helpful book focuses on sudden or traumatic death. While the authors and context are Norwegian, they have a knowledge of other countries and of agencies and strategies to address the issues raised. For example, Cruse Bereavement Care and Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support (SANDS) (p. 62) are familiar in Britain. Their approach is indicative rather than prescriptive - there is a great deal of common sense in what is said.
One could read the whole book or go to a particular section as required using the clearly laid out 'Contents' pages. Each of the eleven chapters concludes with 'Main themes'. The Appendix mentions Projects referred to; 'References' is a bibliography, including web sites, and there is a 'Subject Index'. The authors' style is excellent and inclusive of those mentioned in the sub-title.
Apart from passing references to Pastors or Funerals, there is no full examination of religion or the role of faith communities to be found as part of grief and bereavement support. Faith personnel are as important in many societies as are the professional grief counsellors. A relevant chapter to complement that on the support provided by the school and workplace would be appreciated in a later edition.
This is not a depressing or overly objective book; rather, one can recognise personal good practice, and build on it with the experience of others. A welcome note of caution is that 'carers' must ensure that they do not become worn out themselves. That it is a 'vade mecum', rather than a textbook, is recommendation enough.
Reviewer: J.Nicholas Latham (23/07/09)
This very helpful book focuses on sudden or traumatic death. While the authors and context are Norwegian, they have a knowledge of other countries and of agencies and strategies to address the issues raised. For example, Cruse Bereavement Care and Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support (SANDS) (p. 62) are familiar in Britain. Their approach is indicative rather than prescriptive - there is a great deal of common sense in what is said.
One could read the whole book or go to a particular section as required using the clearly laid out 'Contents' pages. Each of the eleven chapters concludes with 'Main themes'. The Appendix mentions Projects referred to; 'References' is a bibliography, including web sites, and there is a 'Subject Index'. The authors' style is excellent and inclusive of those mentioned in the sub-title.
Apart from passing references to Pastors or Funerals, there is no full examination of religion or the role of faith communities to be found as part of grief and bereavement support. Faith personnel are as important in many societies as are the professional grief counsellors. A relevant chapter to complement that on the support provided by the school and workplace would be appreciated in a later edition.
This is not a depressing or overly objective book; rather, one can recognise personal good practice, and build on it with the experience of others. A welcome note of caution is that 'carers' must ensure that they do not become worn out themselves. That it is a 'vade mecum', rather than a textbook, is recommendation enough.
Reviewer: J.Nicholas Latham (23/07/09)
