Children’s experiences of parental deaths due to suicide, homicide, overdose, alcohol, or drug use

Children’s experiences of parental deaths due to suicide, homicide, overdose, alcohol, or drug use
JAMA Network Open; by Sean Esteban McCabe, Eric Hulsey, Luisa Kcomt, Rebecca J. Evans-Polce, Glenn Radford, Samuel D. Tennant, Vita V. McCabe; 9/25
Childhood bereavement resulting from parental mortality in the US has increased substantially over the past decade, including a surge in parental deaths from stigmatized causes, which are defined as drug overdose, homicide, suicide, and alcohol-induced or other drug-induced deaths. This cohort study found that the number of children bereaved from stigmatized parental deaths has increased and now account for 2 in every 5 parental deaths in Michigan. The increase in children who experienced stigmatized parental deaths is concerning given the increased risks of mental health disorders, child welfare involvement, and criminal justice involvement for children immediately following a parental death. Children and families who are bereaved from a stigmatized death may experience a more complex bereavement process and require a higher level of care.