The Grief Navigation Trial: A Multi-Site Pragmatic Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Interventions to Support Parents After Their Child's Unexpected or Traumatic Death
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Summary
Parents of children who die traumatically or unexpectedly from things like suicide or an overdose suffer from mental and physical health problems and can experience massive disruptions in their family life. For about half of these parents, the first, and sometimes only, interactions they have with the healthcare system when their child dies are with a medical examiner or coroner (hereafter 'ME'). But MEs have little to no training in helping grieving families, and there are no standards guiding medical examiners or coroners on how or even if they should help grieving families. This gap leaves parents to find the help they need on their own. This research will test two different strategies for addressing this gap in the healthcare system.
Description
Of approximately 60,000 annual deaths of people \< 25 years old, \~45% occur unexpectedly or traumatically (e.g., from homicide, suicide, or unintentional injury) and become a medical examiner or coroner (hereafter 'ME') case. Parents and caregivers (hereafter 'parents') of these children suffer debilitating mental health issues like complicated grief and depression, physical problems and family dysfunction, and struggle to find support. Often, the ME is parents' sole point of contact with the healthcare system. Yet MEs have limited education, guidance, and tools to support bereaved parents. S…