Key Messages

• During the COVID 19 pandemic, grief is experienced in a “suspended” state, and integrating and giving meaning to the loss of another person is difficult.
• This is because public health measures have taken precedence over end of life and mourning rituals and values.
• The lack of social recognition of the difficulties of grieving during a pandemic causes the bereaved to suffer more.
• Those coping with pandemic grief could potentially find support by sharing their story in a private, group or therapy setting and in sociocultural (collective, meaningful and shared) forms of care, among other avenues.

Lay Summary

• Sixty qualitative interviews have been conducted and analyzed.
• The new reality of pandemic grief (and the components thereof) is now well documented.
• We have stepped up efforts to transfer knowledge to our partners and new partners, including creating a community of practice.
• The process of validating the results and building a community of support is underway.

Author(s)

• Nominated Principal Applicant: Mélanie Vachon, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal

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Population

Aging, Children, Youth and Families, Vulnerable or At-Risk Populations

Language

To ensure the rapid dissemination of this critical information, information is published in the language in which it was submitted. Please contact us for French or English translations.