In 2012, Dr Perera published Making Sense of Near-Death Experiences, a well-regarded book which covers the phenomenon of NDEs worldwide. For the first time, academics and everyday people can gain an understanding of the similarities between near-death experiences and what has been learned to date.

Intended primarily as a handbook for healthcare workers, mental health professionals and others who may encounter someone who has had a near-death experience, Making Sense of Near-Death Experiences has also gained praise and attention from people within the NDE community as well as others who are simply interested in the question of life after death.

To quote Dutch cardiologist, Pim van Lommel, MD:

How could clear, continuous consciousness – outside of one’s body – be experienced at the moment that the brain no longer functions during a period of clinical death, with a flat EEG?

While the medical community is now beginning to take the phenomenon of NDEs more seriously, thanks in large part to Dr Perera’s work, these are questions that men and women all over the world have wondered about for 1,000’s of years.

Making Sense of Near-Death Experiences reviews the phenomenon of NDEs from a truly global perspective. You’ll get a view of the worldwide similarities between people who have had a near-death experience. You’ll learn about the similarities between near-death experiences in children and adults, and how there are differences.

Dr Perera and his colleagues reveal what a near-death experience really is. While gathering all the best research to date, Making Sense of Near-Death Experiences is an excellent summary of the work in the field. But, it offers something more. By taking into account all the work that has been put forth, Dr Perera’s work offers a fresh start, a new opportunity to examine near-death experiences, and most importantly a new focus.

 As Dr Perera puts it:

Whatever your beliefs may be, the important question is: how can we best care for people who have had near-death experiences?

Awards and Praise

After its publication in 2012, Making Sense of Near-Death Experiences received praise from readers in the NDE community, as well as garnering awards from the larger scientific community and medical establishment including being Highly Commended in the Psychiatry category of the 2012 British Medical Association Medical Book Awards.

‘Anyone with the slightest interest in nde should read this book as although it is initially for clinicians, it is written is such a lovely way that it is very easy for laypeople (like me) to understand and thoroughly enjoy.’ – Margaret Butler, Review on Amazon.com

‘This book is particularly strong on cross-cultural comparisons. It can be warmly recommended.‘ – Journal of the Society for Psychical Research

‘This is a truly thought-provoking read.’ – The British Journal of Psychiatry

‘[Making Sense of Near-Death Experiences] is illustrated throughout by case vignettes from people who have had near-death experiences. This brings the book alive and makes it accessible for non-clinical specialists as well as for those with a more academic interest in the subject.’ – The Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy

The Best Handbook for People Helping Someone Who Has Had a Near-Death Experience

• Doctors – General Practitioners, Emergency Room Physicians
• Healthcare Workers – Nurses, Orderlies
• Mental Health Professionals – Psychologists, Psychiatrists
• Emergency Service Personnel – EMTs, Firefighters, Police
• Members of the Armed Forces – Active Duty, Veterans
• Rehabilitation Staff – PTSD Counsellors, Physical Therapists
• Palliative Care Providers – Nursing Home Staff
• Pastoral Workers – Priests, Spiritual Leaders
• Counsellors – School Counsellors, Career Coaches

For too long, people in these roles have not had the reference they needed to provide immediate and long-term care tailored to the needs of someone who has had a near-death experience. For too long, people who undergo a near-death experience are treated with misunderstanding and disbelief.

Making Sense of Near-Death Experiences: A Clinician’s Handbook is the essential tool for people who care for those who have had a near-death experience. And, it is an essential book for family members, friends, co-workers and the partners and spouses of those who have had a near-death experience.

By understanding that this is a real phenomenon that deserves serious attention, we can provide a higher level of care to someone who’s had an NDE and begin to understand what characterises the experience.

Of course, for those who have had a near-death experience, Making Sense of Near-Death Experiences can provide a sense of relief, knowing that you are not alone. It can also help you express what is often a difficult experience to put into words. By sharing this book with your healthcare workers, friends and loved ones, you can help them better understand and benefit from the experience that you’ve had.

NDE Links and Resources

Here are some links to sites and resources from the NDE community. I do not endorse the entire content of these links and they are provided here for reference.

• Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife
  A comprehensive collection of information and resources about the Near-Death Experience. Includes a well organized index, a huge collection of NDE accounts, and more.
• Near Death Experience Research Foundation
  NDERF is dedicated to the study and sharing of the Near-Death Experience and related phenomena. They have an impressive index for over 1800 NDE accounts.
• International Association for Near Death Studies
  In addition to maintaining a database of NDE accounts, IANDS publishes a peer-reviewed scholarly journal and a member newsletter, and sponsors conferences and other programs.
• Anthony Peake’s Website
  Anthony Peake is a writer who deals with borderline areas of human consciousness. His first book, Is There Life After Death? was published in 2006 and since then he has gone on to develop his own ideas together with exploring the latest areas of research in NDE.

Presentation to Global Spiritual Forum

In the video below, you can learn more about Near Death Experience through the presentation Dr Perera provided for the Global Spiritual Forum.

This presentation is sure to provide exciting revelations for everyone, especially medical practitioners, first-responders, and anyone who has a close relation who has had a near-death experience.

An engaging Q&A follows, moderated by Dr Vipula Wanigasekera and Dr Kushan Dharmawardena.