Coping with other people’s grief

The recent death of a young man living in a Pennsylvania residential facility for people with disabilities has resulted in criminal charges, an investigation, and a lot of media coverage.

When tragedy strikes in a family, communities come together, and often, virtual strangers offer, food, help, or friendship. But many people affected by a sudden illness, death or other disaster also experience something else – the people they thought were closest to them remain absent. WHYY’s Behavioral Health reporter Maiken Scott spoke with Psychologist Dan Gottlieb about how we react to other people’s suffering.