BMJ  2006;332:794-795 (1 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7544.794-b

Letter

Grieving the death of a child

Supporting health professionals who care for grieving patients may benefit all

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Davies outlined two cases of palliative care in the community for children where mothers committed suicide after the death of their children by using the remaining opioid drugs.¹ Supporting healthcare professionals who work in palliative care, and particularly in such circumstances, could be as helpful for them as it may be for their patients. Published work has recognised that patients' suicide has an impact on psychiatrists.^{2 3} The qualitative study in which I am currently participating (which includes senior house officers (SHOs) in psychiatry) has identified the traumatic effect of suicide risk assessment on the SHOs when the patient subsequently attempted or committed suicide. The emotional effects of such experiences have a lasting influence on the SHOs' practice by denting their professional confidence. The feedback from the focus group interviews that I have conducted so far includes comments on the helpful aspects of sharing such experiences and the feelings . . . [Full text of this article]

Cedar House, Blackberry Hill Hospital, Bristol BS16 2EG svetlin.vrabtchev@awp.nhs.uk

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