Understanding experiences of bereavement during the pandemic
Researchers led by Dr. Emily Harrop at Cardiff University and Dr. Lucy Selman at the University of Bristol explored how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced people's personal experiences of bereavement, and the support that they received.
Dr. Damian Farnell and Dr. Renata Medeiros Mirra at Cardiff University's School of Dentistry also supported the study by conducting statistical analyses of survey data.
Understanding people's experiences
The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to have taken place between March 2020 and May 2020. 711 people who experienced bereavement during this period completed an online questionnaire about their personal experience, as part of a study undertaken by Dr. Emily Harrop and Dr. Lucy Selman.
Following a statistical analysis of the collected data by Dr. Damian Farnell and Dr. Renata Medeiros Mirra, it was discovered that:
- 54.3% were unable to visit the deceased prior to their death
- 57.8% had limited contact with them in last days of their life
- 63.9% were unable to say goodbye as they would have liked
- 93.4% experienced restricted funeral arrangements
- 66.7% suffered from social isolation and loneliness
- 80.7% had limited contact with other close relatives or friends
Furthermore, 28.2% of the bereaved experienced severe levels of grief following their loss.
"It was brutal. It still is, as I feel the grieving process is so much worse now due to isolation and lack of contact, the trauma of [Name]’s sudden death and not having any time with him. I tell people that unless you have lost someone you love so much suddenly, during this pandemic, you can never understand the feelings of hopelessness, despair, sadness, so much was ripped away from me and my children."
Reporting the findings
Findings from the study were presented at the launch of the UK Commission on Bereavement in June 2021, with a public statement by the Minister for Mental Health to address the gaps and challenges identified by the study.
Moving forward, the study will focus on the log-term effects of these bereavement's, and the impact of COVID-19 upon bereavement services and care.
Key facts
- 755 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6.9 million deaths from COVID-19 were recorded globally as of 10 February 2023 by the World Health Organisation
- for each of these deaths, there were approximately nine close family members or friends who experienced bereavement
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on bereavement services
67.3% of services reported that there were groups with unmet needs not accessing their services before the pandemic; most frequently:
- people from minority ethnic communities (49%)
- sexual minority groups (26.5%)
- people from deprived areas (24.5%)
- men (23.8%)
These numbers changed relatively little during the pandemic, although qualitative findings demonstrated the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on minority ethnic communities, including disruption to care/mourning practices, and the need for culturally appropriate support.
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Publications
- Selman, L. E. et al., 2022. Factors associated with higher levels of grief and support needs among people bereaved during the pandemic: results from a national online survey. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (10.1177/00302228221144925)
- Harrop, E. et al. 2022. Parental perspectives on the grief and support needs of children and young people bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic: Qualitative findings from a national survey. BMC Palliative Care 21 177. (10.1186/s12904-022-01066-4)
- Torrens-Burton, A. et al. 2022. “It was brutal. It still is”: A qualitative analysis of the challenges of bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic reported in two national surveys. Palliative Care and Social Practice 16 , pp.1-17. (10.1177/26323524221092456)
- Selman, L. E. et al., 2022. Risk factors associated with poorer experiences of end-of-life care and challenges in early bereavement: Results of a national online survey of people bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliative Medicine 36 (4), pp.717-729.
- Harrop, E. et al. 2021. Support needs and barriers to accessing support: Baseline results of a mixed-methods national survey of people bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliative Medicine 35 (10), pp.1985-1997. (10.1177/02692163211043372)
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