Bereavement care for sudden death

Abstract

There were around 40,000 deaths in Hong Kong every year, with over 9,000 as unnatural deaths that mandated reporting to the Coroner’s Court. Unnatural deaths include occupational and vehicular accidents or accidents of any types, suicides, homicides, and acute medical conditions. These deaths are usually sudden for both the deceased and the family, and pose a different trajectory for grieving. Based on literature review and frontline experiences, the unique features of bereavement by sudden death - the unpreparedness, the possibility of traumatic witness, the secondary traumatisation of the necessary procedures, the possible ambiguous loss, as well as the intertwine of trauma and bereavement are discussed. With a mapping of the possible trajectory, bereavement care at different stages, addressing these unique features, is suggested and elaborated with illustrative case examples. Practical insights in provisions of bereavement care for such group are also highlighted.