Availability of bereavement support following traumatic pediatric death in a large metropolitan area

Availability of bereavement support following traumatic pediatric death in a large metropolitan area

Divakar A; James K; Mayorga A; Michelson KN

Death Studies

2023

child; Bereavement; terminal care; human; grief; bereavement; self help

Following an unexpected pediatric death, survivors undergo unique trauma. Medical examiners (MEs) evaluate most of these deaths. We evaluated the bereavement support available to survivors in the Chicagoland area following a pediatric death. We had two goals: to characterize the available bereavement support options and compare the locations (by zip code) of support groups with the locations (by zip code) in which pediatric ME cases occurred. We identified 48 organizations that provided bereavement support services at 74 locations in the summer and fall of 2020. Locations by zip codes in which the largest number of ME cases occurred did not have support groups. Locations in which more ME cases occurred generally had lower-income populations and a greater proportion of Black or Hispanic residents. Bereavement support following pediatric death is inadequate and unevenly distributed across the Chicagoland area.

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September List 2023