Services to the widowed: First steps in a program of preventive intervention.

A target population of widowed people under 60 years of age is singled out as having a high risk of developing mental illness. Initial steps taken before developing a program of preventive intervention for this population are reported. Existing services are related to the various stages in the bereavement process. The abilities of existing mental health agencies to do preventive work and ideas on how other caregivers might be more helpful in programs of early intervention are discussed.