Gazibara, Tatjana (36494484100)Tatjana (36494484100)GazibaraOrnstein, Katherine A. (6603891083)Katherine A. (6603891083)OrnsteinGillezeau, Christina (57195474638)Christina (57195474638)GillezeauAldridge, Melissa (55969992700)Melissa (55969992700)AldridgeGroenvold, Mogens (6603985114)Mogens (6603985114)GroenvoldNordentoft, Merete (7006191523)Merete (7006191523)NordentoftThygesen, Lau Caspar (6701410573)Lau Caspar (6701410573)Thygesen2025-06-122025-06-122021https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwab212https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85122488748&doi=10.1093%2faje%2fkwab212&partnerID=40&md5=3af112397242371b880e2fddfd710e18https://remedy.med.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3895We aimed to examine the association of young and middle-aged sibling bereavement with use of health services and risk of developing mental health disorders over 24 months before and after sibling's death. All persons aged 18-56 years who died of illness/natural causes between 2009 and 2016 were identified in the Danish Register of Causes of Death. The study sample included 31,842 bereaved siblings and 31,842 age- A nd sex-matched controls. Overall, the largest effect was observed for increased use of psychological services: For women, the peak was observed 4-6 months after the death (odds ratio (OR) = 3.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.85, 3.85) and for men in the first 3 months after the death (OR = 2.63, 95% CI: 2.06, 3.36). The peak of being diagnosed in a hospital setting with any mental disorder for women was observed in the period 13-15 months after sibling death (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.07) and for men in the first 3 months after the death (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.32). Young and middle-aged adults who experienced the death of a sibling are more likely to use health services and are at risk of poorer mental health outcomes. During the bereavement process, young and middle-aged siblings are especially in need of mental health support, such as professional psychological counseling. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved.bereavementhealth services usemental healthsiblings