Bereavement is often treated as a psychological condition of the individual with both healthy and pathological forms. However, this empirically-grounded study argues that this is not always the best or only way to help the bereaved. In a radical departure, it emphasises normality and social and cultural diversity in grieving.

Exploring the significance of the dying person's final moments for those who are left behind, this book sheds new light on the variety of ways in which bereaved people maintain their relationship with dead loved ones and how the dead retain a...

This book is the first to examine, in-depth, the experiences of bereaved family members following a drug and/or alcohol related death. Drawing upon a substantial research project, chapters identify the issues faced by a sizeable, yet often stigmatised and vulnerable group, which make these deaths particularly hard to grieve. These include the stresses and strains of having lived with another s substance use, as well as the stigma that often extends to those left behind, and the difficulties of memorialising a life that may be considered unfulfilled. The book also explores the responses of...