ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the impact of loss and bereavement on mental health and outlines the importance of resilience when coping with loss. It identifies that individuals within the criminal justice system are at higher risk of having experienced traumatic life events and developing mental health problems and are at an increased risk of suicide when compared to the general population. The chapter informs the thinking of practitioners in criminal justice settings, who may have an awareness of the potential adverse effects that loss and bereavement can have on an individual's mental health and can apply this to the criminal justice setting. The link between bereavement and depression has long been established, as research conducted on spousal bereavement suggests that the death of a loved one can expose the bereaved individual to a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms or a major depressive disorder.
