Grief in the time of Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought massive changes to our lives including how we say goodbye to our loved ones. To help, our researchers have put together an online hub of resources to help people who have been bereaved or those working in the funeral or memorial professions. Devised by our Centre for Death and Life Studies the hub provides links to advice on grief and bereavement and online memorial services. The resource also provides links to official Government statistics relating to Covid-19 cases as well as essays and media interviews on the effects of the pandemic on grief and funeral rituals. People who have been affected by loss due to Covid-19 can also take part in a worldwide research project looking to understand how the virus has impacted upon how they have paid their last respects. Social distancing Restrictions on gatherings and social distancing have made funerals dramatically different occasions with only a few relatives being able to attend. Our researchers say this could lead to an intensified sense of what has been called disenfranchised grief, something that some experience when actively prevented from attending the funeral of a partner, friend or family.