The greatly expanded text in these third editions includes information on how people are likely to react when someone is very ill and to their death. It explores difficult emotions, possible physical feelings and behaviour changes. Guidance is given on how to relate to a bereaved person and how to answer the questions ‘How do we feel when someone dies?’, ‘What happens after someone dies?’ and ‘How long does it take to get back to normal?’. There is advice for support staff and carers of those with learning disabilities (including how to formulate guidelines and a sample bereavement questionnaire), plus information on useful written resources and bereavement organisations that can offer further help.

 

These books will be helpful to adolescents and adults with learning disabilities as well as for their carers and supporters. In addition, children without learning disabilities will appreciate these books as they adopt a more direct approach to death than is usual.

 

           

 

“The books will be useful resources for nurses to use both proactively (before a death to explore feelings and potential coping strategies) or reactively (following a death to explore personal feelings and facilitate personal stories).”

Learning Disability Practice

 

“These books give the young person the option to share their thoughts openly if they wish. … Overall, I feel the book’s simplistic approach is its strength, it’ easy to use and the children I have used it with have related to it well.”

Counselling Children and Young People