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[Memorial services after major accidents].

BACKGROUND
Memorial services in the acute phase after major accidents have been common in Norway since the late 1980ies. We have examined such services from the aspect of liturgy, rite and as help to cope in a crisis. This paper focuses mainly on the last item: What importance does the memorial service have for the participants?


MATERIAL AND METHOD
We have interviewed nine bereaved and one rescuer who were involved in four accidents and participated in memorial services thereafter. Transcriptions of the interviews were coded in accordance with inductive code categories and were reorganized in a thematic structure that formed a basis for further analyses.


RESULTS
For the bereaved, the situation was characterized by strong emotions and impressions. Some reported a great need to participate in the service; others were ambivalent due to emotional exhaustion and existential distress. Lighting candles and reading names created the strongest memories and were emphasized as important for handling the crisis. The participants experienced the church room as appropriate to enfold their emotions. The rituals helped to confirm reality and release grief, and they helped them to cope with emotional and existential aspects.


INTERPRETATION
A memorial service is not therapy as such, but can be understood as a collective ritual response to an extensive crisis experience. Those who participate would also engage in rituals to deal with other emotionally and existentially challenging situations (i.e. funerals). Participation in the service seemed to reduce feelings of helplessness; it connected the individual to the community and contributed to create order in a chaotic situation.