This study aimed to explore the published literature on risk and protective factors associated with burnout among professionals working in death-related settings. Scoping Review. This review adopted the JBI guidelines for Scoping Reviews and followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy has been implemented across PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Grey literature was not included in this review. Eligible studies encompassed descriptions of risk or protective factors associated with burnout in professionals working in death scenarios. Two independent researchers screened titles and abstracts and subsequently conducted full-text assessments based on predefined inclusion criteria. Relevant data have been systematically extracted and tabulated. The findings were thematically organized and qualitatively summarized, with potential visual aids such as graphs and tables. The studies highlighted risk and protective factors for burnout among death-related professions, such as demographic and personal factors, work-related factors, and psychological and social factors. This study summarizes the current knowledge about burnout among professionals working in death scenarios. Further research is necessary for the development of prevention programs destined for this population.

It is known that death education and support helps in a number of ways those people involved in end-of-life and death-related working settings. This scoping review systematically maps the existing literature on death education programs, how they are delivered, and their psychosocial outcomes within different populations. The investigation was conducted using five databases (PubMed, PsychoInf, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL), and 45 studies matched the inclusion criteria for the study. The death education programs detailed in the studies were delivered online, in person, or in a hybrid way through different strategies, such as group discussions, lectures, and interactive activities. The psychosocial outcomes from the programs in the review indicated a higher willingness to discuss end-of-life decisions and decreased death anxiety, death avoidance, and fear of death.

Suicide is a public health concern, and prevention programs are fundamental to decreasing its rates. Suicide notes might be crucial to understanding motives associated with suicidal behaviours. In this way, it is necessary to understand the qualitative methods that are most frequently used to analyze this data. Investigating these factors is crucial for developing targeted and preventive interventions. This scoping review aimed to answer the question “What is the state of art about qualitative methods adopted to analyze suicide notes?” by systematically mapping the literature on this topic. This review adopted the JBI guidelines for Scoping Reviews and followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy has been implemented across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Grey literature was not included in this review. Eligible studies encompassed qualitative studies on suicide notes published in English. Two independent researchers screened titles and abstracts and subsequently conducted full-text assessments based on predefined inclusion criteria. Relevant data have been systematically extracted and tabulated. The findings were thematically organized and qualitatively summarized, with potential visual aids such as graphs and tables. The studies highlighted the most used qualitative methods to analyze suicide notes, such as LIWC, Leenar’s, Grounded Theory, Thematic Analysis and others. This study summarizes the current knowledge about qualitative methods to analyze suicide notes. Further research is necessary for the development of prevention programs destined for this population.

This study explores how Italian funeral home and cemetery workers construct vocational meaning and navigate identity amid constant exposure to death. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 participants (12 funeral directors, 7 cemetery workers), exploring emotional labor, motivation, coping, stigma, and ethics. Six themes emerged: (1) emotional labor and detachment, (2) mortality and transformation, (3) stigma and invisibility, (4) vocational ethics and care, (5) unique challenges for cemetery workers, and (6) institutional barriers for funeral directors. Despite low social prestige, participants expressed a strong sense of calling and deep ethical commitment. Their narratives reveal a complex professional identity shaped by emotional depth, moral responsibility, and silent service. This study contributes to the vocational behavior literature by shedding light on meaningful work and identity formation in stigmatized, death-related professions.

Forensic doctors play a crucial role at the intersection of medicine and law, offering expertise in legal matters. However, their work exposes them to significant emotional and psychological stress, increasing the risk of burnout. Despite the critical nature of their profession, little research has explored how forensic doctors construct their professional identities, cope with work‐related challenges, and make sense of their professional experiences. To address this gap, we adopted a life‐history approach combined with interpretative phenomenological analysis to examine the subjective career trajectories and meaning‐making processes of forensic doctors in Italy. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants, capturing their personal and professional histories. An in‐depth analysis identified five key themes: (1) the nature of forensic medicine—participants used metaphors to describe the complexity, artistry, and investigative nature of their work; (2) the professional identity of forensic doctors—how they develop a sense of duty, ethical commitment, and professional resilience throughout their careers; (3) core resources needed to be a forensic doctor—the role of mentorship, specialized skills, and coping strategies in sustaining their careers; (4) what does death have to teach?—the personal impact of continuous exposure to death, shaping their perspectives on life and mortality; (5) esse cum—the challenges, stigma, and stereotypes forensic doctors face in their interactions with colleagues, legal professionals, and society. This study explores the professional identities and coping mechanisms of forensic doctors, revealing that despite facing stigma, emotional strain, and burnout, they find meaning in their work, emphasizing justice and resilience.

Background: Palliative care—while overlapping with but distinct from end-of-life care—involves multidisciplinary teams providing medical, psychosocial, and existential support to patients and families facing serious illness. While prior research has examined professional identity in palliative care, the existential dimensions of identity formation—what it means to be a palliative care professional—remain largely underexplored. Aim: To explore the lived experiences of palliative care professionals, focussing on how their professional identity is constructed through the existential notion of “being,” and to identify implications for advancing international education and workforce policy. Design: Semi-structured interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Reflexivity, peer debriefing, thick description, and an audit trail were applied to ensure rigour and transparency. Setting/participants: Fourteen Italian palliative care professionals from diverse disciplines (nursing, medicine, allied health) working primarily in community-based services. Results: One Group Existential Theme emerged: Being, encompassing four subthemes—Meaning of Being, Ways of Being, Being Present for Others, and Reasons for Being Present. Across these, participants framed their identity not only around technical competence but also around emotional presence, relational depth, and ethical commitment to dignity in dying. Conclusions: This study advances existing literature by integrating the existential dimensions of “being” into professional identity theory. Findings highlight the need for international education and workforce strategies that embed reflective practice, emotional competence training, and peer-support structures alongside technical instruction, to sustain professionals in death-related work.