Optimizing Visits to the Site of Death for Bereaved Families After Disasters and Terrorist Events

Abstract

In recent years it has been common after disasters and terrorist events to offer bereaved families the opportunity to visit the place where their loved ones died. Many report that such visits are beneficial in processing their loss. Various factors, both cognitive (eg, counteracting disbelief) and existential or emotional (eg, achieving a sense of closeness to the deceased), are associated with the experienced benefit. Nonetheless, exacerbations of trauma and grief reactions (eg, re-enactment fantasies) are common, with some of the bereaved also reporting adverse reactions after the visit. Subsequently, proper preparations are a prerequisite before such visits take place. This article describes how to optimize collective visits to the site of death after disasters or terrorist events for bereaved families. Important questions-for example, concerning those who should be responsible for organizing a visit and those who should be invited, the timing of the visit, what can be done at the site, the need for support personnel, and other practical issues-are discussed and general guidelines are recommended. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:523-527).

Serious life events and post-traumatic stress disorder in the Norwegian population

“…Compared with most other countries, Norwegian society pays high attention to serious life events and the possibility of adverse health outcomes. 49,50 Faced with the high rates of PTSD in the general population, it is appropriate to question whether this level of attention can have negative effects on mental health at the population level.…”

Can visiting the site of death be beneficial for bereaved families after terror? A qualitative study of parents’ and siblings’ experiences of visiting Utøya Island after the 2011 Norway terror attack

“…Subsequently, more research is needed before this can be used systematically in the follow-up of bereaved families. Furthermore, careful planning, mental preparation prior to the visit, and support through the visit is necessary to try to minimize or reduce some of the distress that can be associated with such visits (Kristensen et al, 2017 ; Murray, Merritt, & Grey, 2015b ). Regardless of preparation, we believe that some reactivation of reactions must be expected.…”

“…When a major national or international disaster strikes, national authorities may decide to organize a collective visit for bereaved families to the site of death. In other cases, the company or organization responsible for the safety of those who were killed may arrange a visit for bereaved families, or families have gathered at such sites themselves (Eyre, 2007;Kristensen et al, 2017). After the terror attack in 2011 at Utøya Island in Norway, where a single perpetrator killed 69 young adults and adolescents, and around 500 survived, a national expert group recommended that bereaved families be offered the opportunity to visit the island (Report IS-1984E, 2012.…”

Psychosocial intervention models and outcomes after a terror disaster

“…Three key themes emerged as to what as they considered important with the visit: Seeing the actual place of death, seeking actual information, and learning to know the island. 49,50 It came as a surprise that the prevalence of prolonged grief disorders among close friends of the killed youths was nearly as high as among the parents and the siblings. 51 The finding indicated that when it comes to defining who should be considered at risk among the bereaved, close friends of the deceased ought to be included.…”