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Wellbeing Lothian NHS Lothian | Our Services
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Bereavement During Coronavirus

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Bereavement During Coronavirus

Losing a loved one is hard at any time. Bereavement and grief during a period of isolation, filled with restrictions and limited contact with family and friends can make coping with loss much harder.

A big part of the process of grieving is within the rituals we have in coming together with people, having a funeral and spending time with loved ones. Not being able to be together and in close proximity to our support systems can make the coping process harder. You may feel like you didn’t get to say goodbye in the way you would have wanted because of Covid-19. If there was a funeral, you may not have been able to attend. Or if you did, others might not have been allowed to.

Emotionally, you may be feeling numb, angry, frightened, disorientated, overwhelmed, depressed, guilty or confused. These are all normal reactions, so please don’t be telling yourself that there’s a right way to do this.  You’ll grieve in your own way, at your own pace.

You may be feeling lonely and isolated. Not being able to see your loved ones like you normally would, get support from them or support them, in ways you usually would is very challenging. Try to connect with people in different ways.

Try to remember that the current situation is not your fault. A lot of things have been out of your control during the pandemic. You are experiencing a normal response to very difficult circumstances.

If you are finding it hard to find the support you need from family and friends, there are bereavement charities and organisations that can help.

The way that grief affects children and young people can be very different from the way it affects adults, so knowing what to say or where to find the right services can really help. A useful website for children, young people, parents and professionals is: www.childbereavementuk.org.

For more sources of support, have a look at the ‘Support’ section in Loss and Bereavement.

Related Resources

  • What is Grief? An OverviewWhat is Grief? An Overview
    Whatever the cause of your grief, there’s no right or wrong way to cope. It’s common to feel that you’re struggling more than you should be, or that you’re taking longer to heal than you should do.  However, there’s no timeline or deadline when you’re coping with loss.
  • Helping a Loved One Cope with Loss and BereavementHelping a Loved One Cope with Loss and Bereavement
    It can be difficult to know what to say or do when your loved one is coping with loss and bereavement. It’s normal to feel awkward or to worry that you’ll make things worse, but don’t let this stop you from being there for them.
  • What Can You Say to Help Someone Who is Coping With Loss?
    Most people are unsure what to say when someone’s been bereaved and sometimes this can feel overwhelming if you’re trying to support a friend or family member through their loss. You might feel worried about saying the wrong thing, or you might feel helpless or trapped in your own fears. But distancing yourself or not reaching out can lead people to feel even more isolated.
  • Coping with Changes
    We all experience changes in our lives. Learn about how change can affect our wellbeing.
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