1. Strategies for Grieving a Loss During the COVID-19 Crisis (Cross, 2020)
This article discussed the impact that COVID-19 has had on the world, as it created a new reality that was unfortunately marked by grief and loss. This article explored how COVID-19 has forced people to “process both individual and collective grief in the face of an uncertain future which we are powerless to control.” The article included several avenues of grieving that have resulted due to the pandemic, such as: job loss, loss of safety, financial anxiety, worry, social distancing, quarantine, feelings of extreme isolation, changes in daily routines, cancellation of plans and events, arguments with family members over protection and protocols, financial instability, fears for the future, and sadness over the effects that this pandemic will have on the world.
This article mentioned an interview with Marcella Hayes, assistant program director for the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas. Dr. Hayes mentioned that when people see continuous reports of COVID-19-related deaths, it has become an automatic trigger for people in their grief journey and is also negatively impacting their stress coping skills. Counselors at this bereavement center are offering tele-health in the form of virtual options for mental health counseling. This is to help people manage grief in the midst of COVID-19. Additionally, staff has uploaded skill-based, psycho-educational videos that address coping skills, gratitude, and ways to effectively manage the loss of normalcy. The following link was provided within the article for direct access to the aforementioned videos and additional resources that are provided by the staff:
The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas
Additional coping strategies were also included courtesy of researchers from Psychology Today. One coping strategy mentioned is the acknowledgement that grieving during the time of the pandemic is much more challenging than normal coping practices with loss outside of this health crisis. It was explained that within this time, additional sources of stress are presented for one to contend with, so practicing self-compassion is imperative. Another coping strategy noted the importance of staying connected to others when grieving and being socially isolated. It is easy to fall into self-isolation tendencies during the pandemic, especially with the loss of a loved one. If you lack the motivation to engage in conversation with others and further isolate yourself, it is suggested that you book times for phone calls and video chats to resume normal communication and engagement. It is suggested that you treat these like actual appointments that you are expected to attend. Another coping strategy is alternating between “loss” and “restorative” activities. This idea surfaced from the dual-process approach to grief. This approach is said to assist people in engaging in moderation between loss-related activities (e.g., crying, talking about the deceased, looking at photos of the deceased) and restorative exercises (e.g., making future plans, engaging in hobbies). Finally, minimizing time spent watching the news is a known coping strategy. It is sensible to have an awareness of major announcements; however, outside of that, it is suggested that you limit the time you spend watching the news if you find that it increases your stress levels.
This full article can be found here: