Death of a Child

Eli Humphries called the clinic to make an appointment for couple therapy. The therapist then found out from Eli that George and Dianne Humphries have five children, of whom Eli is the eldest. The death of a child seems against the nature; when mourning the loss of an offspring the parent realizes that the natural order of the generations has been reversed. This mourning involves a pain that escapes both words and thoughts. In the mental health field, the death of a child is considered "one of the most severe, enduring and debilitating forms of bereavement". Historically, research has shown that the death of a son or a daughter has a devastating effect on couples, many of whom would end up in divorce. Newer studies showed a variety of outcomes for couples after losing a child, with some partners feeling closer, while others distance themselves from each other.