Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2025

Setup and Execution of the Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice Death Notification Curriculum
Published on: August 5, 2020
What do Professional Helpers Describe as Important Competence when Supporting Persons Bereaved by a Drug-Related
Torill Hauge Totland1,2, Kristine Berg Titlestad2, Sari Kaarina Lindeman2
1Haugesund Municipality, Haugesund, Norway.
Abstract:
Bereaved persons following a drug-related death (DRD) experience significant stress, an increased risk of health-related problems, complicated grief reactions and a risk of higher mortality. Despite the support received from professional helpers being important, research has yet to examine their perspectives to understand and meet the bereaved's needs and increase the helpers' competence. Hence, this qualitative study explored professional helpers' perspectives on essential skills and competencies when supporting bereaved following DRD. We conducted focus group interviews with 29 professional helpers from diverse health and welfare services across six Norwegian municipalities. Reflexive thematic analysis generated three main themes: Diversity of competence, Basic human competence and Balancing act between different considerations. It is crucial that municipal services explicitly define the needs of bereaved persons following a DRD and determine the necessary professional competencies and appropriate intervention levels required.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Bonanno's Theory of Grieving
Resilience
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Self-Help Support Groups
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...
The Professional Nurse
Communication skills: These are critical characteristics, especially speaking and listening.
Ethical Dilemmas II

