Best practices for helping military widows dealing with grief from an unexpected death
Abstract: This comprehensive project investigates the complex and individualized aspects of grieving, with a specific emphasis on military widows, in line with the CESI model's dedication to inventive, cooperative, and enduring approaches. This comprehensive project explores the personal and professional observations of grief and its significant impact. Military widows encounter obstacles as a result of the distressing and unforeseen circumstances surrounding their spouses' deaths. It is essential to have specialized mental health services and for the government to recognize and address these difficulties through legislation. This comprehensive project combines biblical and theoretical framework that process the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions to loss, as well as the process of reclaiming control over one's life. The involvement of the Alliant Counseling Services Association (ACSA) and other stakeholders in Bridging the Gap (BTG) highlights their active participation in establishing a thorough understanding and collaborative efforts to address the needs of military widows. A comprehensive examination of optimal strategies emphasizes the significance of peer support in mitigating grief and loneliness among military widows. BTG training series aims to provide physicians with knowledge and abilities to assist military widows. An integrated methodology is employed to assess the effects of the training, uncovering enhanced levels of knowledge and confidence among the professionals who took part. Suggestions for future practice prioritize community involvement, collaboration with Veteran Affairs, and customized training for children of departed service members. This project emphasizes the importance of adopting a cooperative and all-encompassing strategy to assist military widows in their process of mourning.