THE death of a close friend can adversely affect your physical and mental health for as much as four years, research involving Scottish experts has found.

A new study from academics at Stirling University and the Australian National University also found that bereaved women experienced worse effects than men.

The groundbreaking study featured 26,515 people over a period of 14 years, with the researchers finding that a range of “negative and enduring consequences” were experienced by people following the death of a close friend.

In a statement they said: “Significant adverse physical and psychological wellbeing, and poorer mental health and social functioning, was discovered to occur up to four years following bereavement.

“The research revealed that grieving women experienced a sharper fall in vitality, suffered greater deterioration in mental health, and impaired emotional and social functioning after a friend passed away.”

Dr Liz Forbat, associate professor at the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Social Sciences, said: “Much of the previous research around grief and bereavement has focused on the death of an immediate relative, often a spouse. We all know that when a partner, child or parent dies that the bereaved person is likely to grieve and feel worse for some time afterwards.

“The impact of the death of a friend, which most of us will experience, is not afforded the same sense of seriousness.

“There are pronounced declines in the health and wellbeing of people who’d had a friend die in the previous four years, yet employers, GPs and the community aren’t focused on providing support to bereaved friends. The death of a friend is a form of disenfranchised grief – one not taken so seriously or afforded such significance.

“This means their grief might not be openly acknowledged or expressed, and the impact trivialised.”

The research was carried out by Dr Forbat in partnership with Dr Wai-Man Liu and professor Katrina Anderson, both of Australian National University.