Bereavement behind bars: Grief support groups with and without therapy dogs for incarcerated females

Bereavement ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Eaton-Stull ◽  
Jessica Hotchkiss ◽  
Janel Jones ◽  
Francine Lilien
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Incarcerated Women ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Grief And Loss ◽  
Therapy Dogs ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Incarcerated Females ◽  
Grief Support ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Women In Prison

Grief is a universal experience; however not everyone experiences grief and loss in the same way. People who are incarcerated are often informed of losses via phone, are unable to attend funeral services or participate in supportive rituals, and can have difficulty expressing feelings in a place where showing emotion can be dangerous. Being unable to obtain support and process grief and loss may contribute to impaired functioning. In this study of bereavement support for women in prison, incarcerated women with recent or unresolved losses (n=32) were randomly assigned to grief support groups with therapy dogs (animal-assisted, AA) or without therapy dogs (non-AA). Pre- and post-test measures of bereavement symptoms and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) were obtained. This study shows that AA groups had more significant decreases in symptoms, lower rates of post-group diagnostic criteria for PGD and higher rates of perceived support/benefit from the groups.

Improving a Grief and Loss Program: Caring for Patients, Families, and Staff

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 233-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan A. Wintermeyer-Pingel ◽  
Donna Murphy ◽  
Karen J. Hammelef
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Comprehensive Cancer Center ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Grief And Loss ◽  
Staff Support ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Grief Support ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
The University

The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMCCC) Grief and Loss Program provides supportive care services during bereavement which is considered part of the care continuum. This program received 50 death notifications per month upon project initiation and currently receives approximately 125 per month. Initial program evaluation was conducted via a pilot survey of bereaved parents as well as verbal and written evaluations from the transdisciplinary staff of Patient and Family Support Services. Grief support prior to evaluation included mailings, phone calls as indicated, poorly attended bereavement support groups, and limited staff support. Based on program evaluation, grief support continues through the use of mail/e-mail and phone calls to those at risk for complicated grief. Three to four gatherings per year are offered rather than monthly support groups, and connections to community resources are provided. The Comfort And Resources at End of Life (C-A-R-E) program was implemented to support and educate staff. Next steps include further program evaluation and potential research to examine best practices for the bereaved.

Participants with Prolonged Grief—How Do They Benefit from Grief Group Participation?

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iren Johnsen ◽  
Atle Dyregrov ◽  
Kari Dyregrov
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Age And Gender ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Group Participation ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Grief Support ◽  
Age And Gender Differences ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Positive Effect

Data analyzed in this article is part of a study conducted to explore grief support groups in Norway. Participants that fulfilled the criteria of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) were compared with participants that did not in order to explore whether they differed on satisfaction and experiences with participation. To allow for comparison, a subsample of 22 participants that fulfilled the criteria of PGD were drawn from the total of 262 participants. Demographic and loss-related variables were analyzed to explore factors associated with PGD. Fulfillment of PGD was then analyzed to explore the group's effect on life quality and overall satisfaction. The main finding is that participants who fulfill the criteria of prolonged grief are in general less satisfied with the groups and report less positive effect on life quality. We also found age- and gender-differences regarding fulfillment of PGD, with older bereaved women especially at risk of developing symptoms of PGD.

scholarly journals “Regardless of their sex” or “biological differences”. An analysis of the European Court of Human Rights’ case law on women in prison

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1275-1311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Ciuffoletti
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Incarcerated Women ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Court Decisions ◽  
Relevant Issue ◽  
European Court ◽  
Women In Prison ◽  
Biological Differences ◽  
Critical Aspects

Abstract In recent years, a growing attention for the specificities of female detention has spurred the adoption of a consolidated corpus of international soft-law tools, as well as reports on the conditions of incarcerated women. This momentum has not been paralleled by court decisions focusing on gender as a key issue in determining potential violations to prisoners’ rights, neither at a domestic nor at an international level. The paper will explore the gap between said legislation and policies and their implementation, particularly focusing on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. The perspective adopted by this Court in interpreting the gender specificities of women in prison seems to be uncritically grounded in the vulnerability paradigm and the protection of motherhood. We will attempt to decode this normative ideology and to read it in context, and in comparison with the consolidated case law of the Court on the legal notion of vulnerability in prison, as well as with its case law on gender topics and the prohibition of discrimination. The analysis will highlight the most critical aspects of the traditional interpretation of gender equality in prison, as well the need to reconsider gender as a relevant issue in the protection of prisoners’ rights.

The Meaning of Bonds: The Relationships Among Grief Rituals, Support From Relatives and Friends, and the Mental Health of Shiduers

2020 ◽  
pp. 003022282090965
Author(s):  
Yudi Zhang ◽  
Xiaoming Jia
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Grief Support ◽  
Posttraumatic Growth Inventory

Previous studies have sporadically explored the effect of various bonds on the mental health of shiduers (i.e., parents who lost their only child). However, research has rarely classified different bonds to systematically describe their effects. This study administered a self-compiled questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the posttraumatic stress disorder Checklist, the Prolonged Grief Questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale to 466 shiduers. The commemoration rituals that occur soon after the loss predict a lower level of posttraumatic stress disorder. Similarly, the commemoration rituals that occur on special days predict lower levels of depression and anxiety. In contrast, the continuation of commemoration rituals on ordinary days predicts higher levels of depression and prolonged grief. Support from family members and relatives, other shiduers, and nonshiduer friends are all beneficial to shiduers’ mental health.

The Effects of Gender and Age on Grief Work Associated with Grief Support Groups

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-241
Author(s):  
Susan J. Zonnebelt-Smeenge ◽  
Robert C. DeVries
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Grief Support ◽  
Grief Work ◽  
Gender And Age

scholarly journals Prolonged Grief Disorder in a Diverse College Student Sample

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Glickman
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Complicated Grief ◽  
Unexpected Death ◽  
Prolonged Grief Disorder ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Grief Support

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the rate of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and associated factors in a large sample of diverse college students. Sources of grief support and perceived helpfulness of support were also examined.Method: An online survey was administered to bereaved students at three colleges at the City University of New York. PGD measured by the Inventory of Complicated Grief was the primary outcome. Chi-squared and t-tests were used to assess the association between PGD and associated factors.Results: A total of n = 899 participants completed the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) based on a significant death loss = >12 months. An estimated 13.4% (n = 120/899) met criteria for PGD. The rate of PGD was associated with race, history of anxiety or depression, trauma other than the death, insecure attachment style, kinship to the deceased, closeness to the deceased, cause of death, and sudden/unexpected death. The majority of students sought grief support from a friend or family member.Conclusion: The rate of PGD in this sample of college students is similar to that of adults and most prevalent for students of color. Identification of those most at risk is critical to referring these students to effective treatments.

The Human–Animal Bond and Grief and Loss: Implications for Social Work Practice

2021 ◽  
pp. 104438942110151
Author(s):  
Ellen E. Whipple
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Grief And Loss ◽  
Disenfranchised Grief ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Human Animal

The human–animal bond (HAB) is a powerful emotional attachment which often elevates pets to the status of a family member. Because companion animals typically live much shorter lives than humans, grief and loss is a problem that is frequently encountered. Disenfranchised grief over the loss of a companion animal is an area that is often overlooked by mental health professionals. Sife has developed a model for the stages of grief and loss specific to companion animals. Questions about pets should be a part of every initial assessment done on a client. Effective interventions include understanding the significance of the HAB and grief and loss; bibliotherapy; psychoeducation; the importance of rituals; and the use of pet loss support groups.

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