How social workers can help families deal with a death

After a loved one passes away, people tend to deal with their grief in different ways. However, regardless of how they heal, these individuals often need the help of a professional, such as a social worker, to get them through the difficult time. Social workers who wish to concentrate on grief counseling may benefit from reading the resources below, which will give them a better idea of what people go through when a loved one dies, as well as how they can help them cope.

What do families go through when dealing with a death?

Social workers who want to help people go through the difficult time that often follows a death should be aware of what exactly these individuals are experiencing. Using the resources below, MSW degree seekers can get a better idea of how a death can affect people, which can, in turn, help them understand what they can do to ameliorate the situation.

The grieving process: Typically, people who have lost a loved one go through a grieving process, which includes denial and shock, anger, bargaining, guilt and a variety of other stages. In order to help people cope with death, social work degree seekers should be sure they understand this process to get a better sense of what their patients are dealing with, as well as what troubles they may face in the future.

The impact of death on the family system: This paper by Lorna Bowlby-West outlines how death can disrupt the structure of a family. Therefore, families that experience the death of a loved one may need to realign their family system in order to truly recover from their loss.

Handling a loved one's suicide: People who were close to someone who committed suicide often need special help from social workers, as their grieving process is unique. This website by the Mayo Clinic outlines the various emotions people may feel following the suicide of a loved one, as well as strategies that can help them cope.

How children deal with death: Oftentimes, children deal with death in a very different way than adults. Some kids may not fully understand death or come to terms with it. Therefore, it is important for social workers to know how to support children following a death. This website by the Nemours Foundation outlines how parents can help their children deal with death; however, social workers can also use this resource to gain a better understanding of how they can help.

Depression: Unfortunately, many people who experience the loss of a loved one develop depression. This website by Livestrong discusses this issue among people who lose a spouse; however, it is important for social workers to remember that depression can affect anyone who has experienced the death of a friend or family member.

Depression after a parent's death: This website by Medscape outlines how depression may develop in teens who have lost a parent. According to the resource, some children and teens become depressed years after the death, so it may be important for social workers to monitor these youths for symptoms of the illness.

How social workers can help people cope

Death is a very delicate topic, so it is important for social work degree seekers to have a clear understanding of how to help people deal with the situation. The resources below explain the many ways these professionals can help their patients cope with the death of a loved one.

Helping families through prolonged illness and loss: Using this website by Social Work Today, students can get a better understanding of how they can help families who are dealing with the prolonged illness of a loved one.

School social workers: School social workers may be faced with the task of assisting children and faculty after the death of a student or staff member. While this can be a challenge, this website by the U.S. Department of Education gives professionals information on how a death can affect a school, as well as how social workers can do their part in ameliorating the situation.

How social workers can help: This website by Help Starts Here outlines social workers' role in helping people cope after the death of a loved one.  During this time, social work degree holders should focus on healing the person as a whole, ensuring that they have optimal physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

Helping children cope with death: This resource by Social Workers Speak discusses how professionals can work with children to help them recover after a death. In this article, Stacy Remke, who has a master's degree in social work, explains what she has learned about helping children cope. 

POSTED BY: admin - January 20th, 2012 at 03:52pm ( 0 )