Proposes task-based approach for understanding coping with dying. Outlines four primary areas of coping with dying (physical, psychological, social, spiritual) which define four primary areas of task work in coping with dying. Offers argument as to why task-based approach should be adopted. Notes four advantages that apply to task-based approach…

Briefly explores the needs served by pet cemeteries, the difficulties that confront many of these facilities, and the larger implications for memorialization and the sense of loss. Includes photographic tour of Pet Rest Memorial Mortuary and Cemetery in Tempe, Arizona. (Author/NB)

Highlights diversity with which Threat Index (TI) has been used in last 10 years to explore death-related topics in empirical literature. Following brief introduction of TI methodology and theoretical foundation, focuses on historical research questions, multidimensional assessment, alternative scoring procedures, workshop applications, and future…

Discusses 10 common questions, gleaned from qualitative analysis of data from nearly 850 bereaved family members who participated in 9 distinct studies, asked by people whose lives are directly affected by the death of a baby. Offers guidelines for family therapists serving families bereaved by an infant death. (Author/NB)

Examines several common human-serving fallacies about suicide as to their validity and discusses these myths in terms of how they operate to reduce anxiety about quality of life and death. Asserts need to dispel myths and seek truths in order to understand and prevent suicide. (Author/NB)

Operationalizes complicated mourning in relation to six "R" processes of mourning (recognize, react, recollect, relinquish, readjust, reinvest) and identifies seven high-risk factors. Asserts that prevalence of complicated mourning is increasing today because of contemporary sociocultural and technological trends. Notes that new…

Notes that close friends of someone who dies grieve and mourn as much as do family members, yet tend to be excluded from legitimate and open grief and mourning rituals. Argues that close friends are denied grief rights to prevent them from exercising their property rights, allowing family members to make claims unimpeded. (Author/NB)

Discusses six common trends that reflect a growing intentional awareness of the psychological and sociological insights into the mourning process as revealed by an examination of new funeral service orders in a number of mainstream faith communities. (Author/ABL)

Discusses three pathographies as models for the "good death." In each, the author organizes the phenomena associated with the illness and death of a spouse from cancer into a coherent pattern. The result is three different paradigms of the experience of dying: "ritual death,""victorious death," and "one's own death." (Author/LLL)

Notes that, while researchers seek accurate causative factors for suicidal behavior, validity and reliability of certification of suicide deaths by coroners and medical examiners have been questioned. Provides overview of existing vital statistics registry system, proposes innovations that could improve quality of officially reported suicide…

Uses five modern short stories about people facing death to illustrate and connect various observations of and theories about the dying process developed by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and Robert N. Butler. In response to the imminence of their deaths, the characters survey their past, attempting to reintegrate their life's experiences. (JAC)

Draws on work of George Herbert Mead to question premise that acute grief that continues or reoccurs two or more years following loss of loved one is pathological. Suggests that onset of intense pain years after loss may be response to "new" death or loss. (Author/NB)

Proposed causal model to delineate predictors of self-reported grief among surviving family members of homicide victims. Evaluated model using data from survey of members of "Victims of Violence" support groups. Results generally supported model and indicated that correlates of grief differed across gender-specific subgroups in terms of their…

Instructor at Air Force Institute of Technology describes role in preparing officers and noncommissioned officers to care for Air Force's dead, thus making them mortuary officers. Notes that officers possess no special skills, are not tested for psychological aptitude, and are not given any initial special/additional training. Describes…

Presents loss and grief as issues that require special understanding and skills from the counselor. Describes how one funeral home implemented an innovative response to loss involving death by inaugurating a thorough professional grief counseling program for its clientele and the community it serves. (Author)