Grieving process after the loss of a child

Cilj ovog diplomskog rada je napraviti sustavan prikaz empirijskih istraživanja i teorijskih radova o procesu tugovanja kod gubitka djeteta obuhvaćajući psihosocijalne posljedice istog za sve članove obitelji uzimajući u obzir i dob djeteta te uzrok smrti. Isto tako, cilj je pružiti neke smjernice za praksu temeljene na empirijskim spoznajama i istraživanjima, stručnjacima zaposlenima u sustavu socijalne i zdravstvene skrbi, specifično socijalnim radnicima u radu s tugujućim osobama koje su izgubile dijete. Tugovanje zbog gubitka djeteta je iznimno težak i dugotrajan proces koji mijenja pretpostavke roditelja i ostalih članova obitelji o životu, sebi i drugima. Proces tugovanja je individualan za svaku osobu, nije mu moguće odrediti duljinu trajanja niti kraj. Tugujućima je potrebno pružiti što adekvatniju pomoć i podršku kako ne bi zapeli u nekoj fazi ili zadatku procesa tugovanja te kako ne bi imali otežano tugovanje. Potrebno je organizirati grupe podrške koje se odnose na specifične uzroke smrti djeteta kako bi tugujući sa sličnim iskustvima mogli bez stigmatizacije ili srama pričati o svojem iskustvu. Također, potrebno je provoditi dodatne edukacije za zdravstvene djelatnike koji rade s roditeljima koji imaju iskustvo reproduktivnih gubitaka kako bi se povećala njihova senzibilizacija i stručnost u ovom području rada. Takve grupe podrške i edukacije mogu provoditi socijalni radnici koji imaju razvijene vještine i kompetencije u radu s tugujućim osobama.The aim of this paper is to give a systematic review of empiric research and theoretical papers about grieving process after the loss of a child in which psychosocial consequences for all family members will be taken into concern as will the age and cause of death too. Moreover, the aim is to give some practical guidelines based on empirical cognitions and research to experts that work in social and health care systems, specifically to social workers in working with grieving people who lost a child. Grieving the loss of a child is a profound and long process which changes the perspectives of parents' and other family members about life, self and others. The grieving process is individual for every person and it is not possible to determine its' duration or end. Grieving people should recieve adequate help and support so they don't get stuck in one phase or task of the grieving process or so they don't experience complicated grieving. It is needed to organize support groups which pertain specific causes of child's death so that grieving people can share their common experiences without stigmatizaion or feelings of shame when they talk about their experience. Furthermore, it is needed to carry out additional educations for health workers who work with grieving parents' that have experience with reproductive losses so they can increase their sensibility and competence in this domain of work. These support groups and education can be carried out by social workers who have developed skills and competencies in working with grieving people