Ana Jeličić

Perception of the Term "Good Death" Among Veterans with PTSP

There is little research questioning what “good death” means with various populations and this knowledge is important especially in the rehabilitation of people with posttraumatic stress. Within the frames of the research on the perception of the term “good death” with veterans with PTSP in the Split-Dalmatia and Sibenik-Knin county, we asked only one question, what does the term “good death” mean for them? With the answer to this simple question, a few clear categories arise that suggest a few potential points that everyone, especially service providers in health care, should consider when treating an ill veteran. Veterans meeting death, personal mortality and the death of comrades or separating from them starts a strong process of changing the mind and the attitude on life and death which is reflected primarily in interpersonal relationships. A person becomes more sensitive after a surprise loss of a comrade and even though the loss of a dear person in war conditions is expected, it always surprises the one who survives. A comrade who survives, experiences the death of his comrade as a personal defeat and it represents a burden basically because of the helplessness he feels at that moment.