‘Resilient when it comes to death’: Exploring the significance of bereavement for the well – being of social work students

Abstract

This article describes a pilot qualitative research study, exploring the impact of bereavement experiences, on pre-qualifying social work students in two UK Universities with diverse demographics. The research study took place in the context of general concern about the mental health of UK University students and suggests that social work students may be at particular risk of developing emotional wellbeing issues linked to bereavement. Interviews followed a free association narrative technique, with analysis of the data highlighting four main themes. Firstly, bereavement is associated with practical problems which may trigger wellbeing issues. Secondly, there is an increased need for specific bereavement training and support to be embedded within social work programmes, alongside skills and knowledge of cultural diversity and the part this plays in the bereavement process. Lastly, the study demonstrated that bereavement experiences are not isolated but linked to other losses and therefore students may need effective support to process these before they can effectively support others. The study appears to be distinctive in its focus on the impacts of bereavement on social work students and has significant implications for the ways in which students are supported by social work education programmes, as well as paving the way for further research in this area.

‘You Took me Back to the sea:’ Using Narrative to Explore and Inform the Practice of Social Work with Dying People

“…The original research study was given ethical consent by the review boards at both participating institutions (Turner and Price, 2021) and participants were recruited either through the Social Work programmes, or via a snowballing technique. Names and locations have been altered within the paper, to comply with the ethical consent.…”

“…Within the original research study (Turner and Price, 2021), themes were identified using thematic analysis techniques (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Four main themes were classified and then analysed.…”

“…The extract which forms the focus of this article was analysed using the same technique and four further themes were distinguished. Within this paper, these themes are discussed and linked to those within the original research study (Turner and Price, 2021), as well as to insights gained through experiences of the Covid 19 pandemic.…”

“…This article focusses on a narrative account, 'The Story of the Pebble,' drawn from a wider UK research study exploring social work students' experiences of bereavement and highlighting the need for further training and support within UK social work education (Turner and Price, 2021).…”

“…Specific themes arising from the interview extract, are analysed within the paper, and linked to the original research study (Turner and Price, 2021) as a means of assisting those involved with social work practice and education to enhance their understanding of work with dying people and their families. Since the original research study from which the extract is drawn was completed, the Covid 19 pandemic has resulted in 4.2 million deaths worldwide (BBC, 2021) of which 130,000 have occurred in the UK, (Gov.UK, 2021), thereby locating death and bereavement firmly at the forefront of national consciousness and further emphasising the significance of findings from both the interview extract and the original research from which it is drawn.…”