Bereavement and Coping with Loss

Abstract

Bereavement and loss are universal phenomena, which may be viewed as a normal rite of passage in life. Although it is important that General Practitioners do not over-medicalize death and loss, they have a valuable role in the acknowledgement of bereavement, the recognition of pathological grief and the identification of vulnerable people who may need extra support. General Practitioners may be faced with bereavement issues covering all age groups from loss of a spouse, loss of a child, miscarriage or loss of a parent. Patients also come to see GPs in the context of other losses such as redundancy, moving house, retirement and loss of fertility.