According to papers released in the current week’s edition of BMJ, parents who have taken care of a really sick and dying child at home are so depressed after the child’s death that there is every chance that they will attempt to end their lives, by consuming overdoses of potent painkillers, used to alleviate the child’s pain during illness.
Authors of the papers feel there is very little research on the suicide rates of bereaved parents. But there is enough evidence that parents who have lost a child suffer profound and long-lasting grief than others suffering bereavements. Also the Risk of suicide among parents is heightened during the month following the child’s death, according to a recent study.Progress made in palliative care, comes to the rescue of such parents who are undergoing grief, and adequate support is given to help them cope with the grief.Parents are also advised to return unused medications, after the death of the child so that safe disposal methods are possible.Presently there is not enough guidance or research on the possible methods that can be used by healthcare staff to offer the best possible support, according to the authors. This area is really in need of additional research that can be a boon to families, who need all the support and strength to tide over a difficult period in their lives.
Source: Eureka
