Abstract

In this collection of first-hand accounts, parents, grandparents, children, siblings and partners share their experiences of losing close relatives and friends through death from natural causes, genetic conditions, accident, suicide and murder. Looking at death from these different perspectives, it aims to encourage people to understand their own grief and how those closest to them might be affected by what can seem a very private loss.

The introduction examines the short- and long-term effects of recent and past loss, the duration and intensity of mourning, and the difficult and often conflicting feelings and behaviours that accompany it: loneliness, anger, guilt or relief, the birth - or loss of - religious faith, out-of-character behaviour triggered by shock, and `competitive' grief among close relatives and friends.

Relative Grief is of interest to anyone who has been bereaved or supported someone who has. It will also be useful for those working with the bereaved, particularly hospice nurses, social workers, counsellors and therapists.