Parental loss of a child to mental illness and the resulting grief is a rel
atively unacknowledged phenomenon, This study aimed to capture the process
through which parents journey in the face of their child's mental illness.
Conducting a series of focus groups, the authors sought to further the unde
rstanding and the needs of these families. They identify seven themes from
initial awareness to the formation of a new stability. Identification of th
is grief process is an important step that can heighten practitioners' awar
eness so that future interventions and support systems can be developed to
help these families deal with their pain and burden. Copyright (C) 2001 by
W.B, Saunders Company.