Bereavement counsellors’ experiences supporting the families of deceased children within a German bereavement network and their perceptions of the network organisation – A qualitative interview study

Abstract

Abstract Background When children are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, commit suicide or die in an accident, their families often experience severe grief. Since January 2021, the “Bereavement Network Lower Saxony” (BNLS) project has provided professional bereavement support from trained bereavement counsellors to families grieving either a child who has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness or a child who has died. The present study aimed at exploring the experiences of BNLS bereavement counsellors in providing bereavement support to affected families and their perceptions of the BNLS organisation.Methods Within the context of the BNLS evaluation, 12 semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with bereavement counsellors between June and August 2022. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis, according to Mayring.Results Bereavement counsellors perceived that grief could be experienced very differently, and thus bereavement support must always be based on the individual needs and resources of bereaved family members. They also noted that professional support may prevent family members from developing (mental) illness. Most counsellors considered their emotional detachment from the topics and experiences discussed within meetings an important component of their professional support and a point of differentiation from voluntary support. They appreciated exchange with other counsellors and supervision within the BNLS to cope with emotional stress. They believed that BNLS's public outreach should improve.Conclusions Bereavement counsellors perceived professional bereavement support as a core component of the care they provided to family members grieving for deceased children, and a preventive factor for the development of (mental) illness among these family members. Bereavement support within a network structure may improve the accessibility of individual support and enable exchange between counsellors, thus ensuring better bereavement support. Public outreach and strategic partnerships with clinics may amplify the positive impact of this support service.