Tanzania, July 19 -- Dar es Salaam. It is not uncommon to witness or hear of individuals who, upon receiving sudden news of a funeral, accident, relationship breakup, academic failure, or a life-threatening medical diagnosis, collapse from shock or exhibit intense hysteria, panic, stress, and profound confusion.

Such distressing news, experts warn, when delivered abruptly without adequately preparing the recipient, can induce severe psychological shock and trigger acute medical complications that necessitate immediate clinical intervention and can occasionally result in death.

Mental health clinicians and communication experts argue that the psychological pain experienced by a recipient is often not solely dictated by the gravity of the...