In a world where facing grief can be difficult, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can make grief seem more isolating and complex.
Experiencing a bereavement or loss during the pandemic has bought with it new challenges to the way that you grieve – like not being able to be with a loved one when they die, or not being able to say your final ‘goodbye’ as you would have liked.
Losing a loved one under any circumstance is one of the most difficult and emotional experiences that you can go through; it can be even tougher at a time when you have to self-isolate and socially distance from your friends and family.
Through funding via The National Lottery Community Fund, we are now able to extend our specialist grief counselling and support offering during the pandemic, providing additional support to people living within local communities. We can now offer support and counselling to anyone who has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and who may be struggling with a bereavement, significant loss or life-changing/life-limiting illness diagnosis.
We can work with parents, carers, and professionals who are experiencing issues around grief and also have the ability to support those who are themselves supporting children and young people with these issues. Parents and professionals will be able to access advice and guidance on how they can best support those in their care, as well as gaining their own support.
The Dove Service is here to support you during this difficult time, particularly if you have experienced:
- Bereavement due to COVID-19 and are struggling with the impact of this loss
- Life changing illness or life limiting illness – either having had COVID-19 or if you have a pre-existing illness which has been exacerbated by COVID-19
- Other significant loss due to COVID-19
Grief is typically also associated with death, but it can also follow any type of loss. For example, people often experience grief after a divorce or a job loss. Some of the things people may be grieving as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may also include:
- Job loss
- Financial anxiety
- Loss of safety
- Worry about loved ones
- Social distancing, quarantine, and feelings of isolation
- Changes in daily habits and routines
- Special plans and events that have been cancelled
- Clashes with family members over how to protect yourself
- Worries about how to pay rent, utilities, and other bills
- Sadness over how the pandemic will affect the world