If you had someone in your life who has died during the COVID-19 pandemic from any cause, we would like to hear about your experience.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge effect on people who were grieving
The death of a family member or close friend is one of the most stressful events that we will experience. In 2020 and into 2021 Australia, along with the rest of the world, has had to deal with a pandemic. Little is known about the effect that this pandemic has had on people’s mental health or what support they needed if they had a family member or a close friend die.
It is likely that many people experienced great sadness because of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on had them after the death of their loved one. The pandemic came after catastrophic prolonged drought, bushfires and floods. The pandemic was yet another crisis to have to deal with.
People could not get together
People were not able to get the support they usually would from family and friends because of social distancing or limitations on the number of people who could be in a home. People most likely had limited access to practical support from others because of these restrictions. They might also have had less access to emotional support from family and friends. People may feel increased feelings of loneliness and grief.
Border closures and lockdown affected people
At times when borders were closed to restrict travel between states, people were worried about their family, their jobs, the economy and their friends. Deaths that occurred during COVID-19 happened along with many other losses such as loss of jobs, loss of routine, loss of freedom to travel, play sport, get involved in hobbies, visit friends, loss of future plans and in some cases loss of trust in others.
People who were already struggling with their grief may be more affected during a pandemic. They may have felt that their loss was less worthy of attention. Finally, people may hesitate to ask for support as people in their own circle of friends may be preoccupied with their own worries.
Visiting hospitals and nursing homes was hard
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, strict visiting restrictions were introduced with many health services only allowing one family member to visit just prior to the death. There have also been cases where no family member could be present. Fear around going to the doctor or the hospital in case they caught COVID-19 or brought it home to vulnerable family members meant that families had less contact with doctors so they could not get the information they needed about their loved one’s condition. These families may also have been left without access to usual supports and mental health services as many either ceased or were delivered remotely.
People could not go to funerals
Routines and rituals such as wakes and funerals that usually give comfort after a death, were restricted by public health laws during the pandemic. In addition to not being able to visit loved ones in hospital or nursing homes, restrictions on travel meant they could not attend the funeral when their loved one died or to travel inter-state or overseas if the death occurred there.
People from overseas struggled
People from culturally and linguistically diverse communities have seen the distressing media images of the pandemic’s impact in their country of origin (e.g. Italy, India, Brazil) which may have increased their concerns for vulnerable family members overseas who may be ill or who have died.
We want to know how you coped after the death of a family member or friend during the pandemic
As businesses and cities open up again, we are being told that life is getting back to ‘normal’, but for people who have experienced a death during COVID-19, there is no back to normal.
Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney invite you to take part in a research study that looks at the experiences and support needs of people bereaved from any cause during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like to share your experience, participation in the study will consist of a 20 minute online survey that asks about your experience of bereavement, the kind of support (if any) you have received and wanted, what has been most helpful and least helpful for you, and any other comments you would like to make. The survey won’t ask for any identifying information, the researchers won’t be able to know that it was you who completed it.
There is also an opportunity to take part in an interview and do other surveys to see how your needs may have changed over time.
We will use this information to write a National Bereavement Action Plan. The Plan will go to the Government and make recommendations to improve access to bereavement support for people during this current and any future pandemics. It will also guide the education and training of mental health staff and other clinicians.
The death of a family member or close friend is one of the most stressful events that we will experience. In 2020 and into 2021 Australia, along with the rest of the world, has had to deal with a pandemic. Little is known about the effect that this pandemic has had on people’s mental health or what support they needed if they had a family member or a close friend die.
It is likely that many people experienced great sadness because of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on had them after the death of their loved one. The pandemic came after catastrophic prolonged drought, bushfires and floods. The pandemic was yet another crisis to have to deal with.
People could not get together
People were not able to get the support they usually would from family and friends because of social distancing or limitations on the number of people who could be in a home. People most likely had limited access to practical support from others because of these restrictions. They might also have had less access to emotional support from family and friends. People may feel increased feelings of loneliness and grief.
Border closures and lockdown affected people
At times when borders were closed to restrict travel between states, people were worried about their family, their jobs, the economy and their friends. Deaths that occurred during COVID-19 happened along with many other losses such as loss of jobs, loss of routine, loss of freedom to travel, play sport, get involved in hobbies, visit friends, loss of future plans and in some cases loss of trust in others.
People who were already struggling with their grief may be more affected during a pandemic. They may have felt that their loss was less worthy of attention. Finally, people may hesitate to ask for support as people in their own circle of friends may be preoccupied with their own worries.
Visiting hospitals and nursing homes was hard
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, strict visiting restrictions were introduced with many health services only allowing one family member to visit just prior to the death. There have also been cases where no family member could be present. Fear around going to the doctor or the hospital in case they caught COVID-19 or brought it home to vulnerable family members meant that families had less contact with doctors so they could not get the information they needed about their loved one’s condition. These families may also have been left without access to usual supports and mental health services as many either ceased or were delivered remotely.
People could not go to funerals
Routines and rituals such as wakes and funerals that usually give comfort after a death, were restricted by public health laws during the pandemic. In addition to not being able to visit loved ones in hospital or nursing homes, restrictions on travel meant they could not attend the funeral when their loved one died or to travel inter-state or overseas if the death occurred there.
People from overseas struggled
People from culturally and linguistically diverse communities have seen the distressing media images of the pandemic’s impact in their country of origin (e.g. Italy, India, Brazil) which may have increased their concerns for vulnerable family members overseas who may be ill or who have died.
We want to know how you coped after the death of a family member or friend during the pandemic
As businesses and cities open up again, we are being told that life is getting back to ‘normal’, but for people who have experienced a death during COVID-19, there is no back to normal.
Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney invite you to take part in a research study that looks at the experiences and support needs of people bereaved from any cause during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like to share your experience, participation in the study will consist of a 20 minute online survey that asks about your experience of bereavement, the kind of support (if any) you have received and wanted, what has been most helpful and least helpful for you, and any other comments you would like to make. The survey won’t ask for any identifying information, the researchers won’t be able to know that it was you who completed it.
There is also an opportunity to take part in an interview and do other surveys to see how your needs may have changed over time.
We will use this information to write a National Bereavement Action Plan. The Plan will go to the Government and make recommendations to improve access to bereavement support for people during this current and any future pandemics. It will also guide the education and training of mental health staff and other clinicians.
For more information about the study and to complete the survey should you choose to do so, please click the button below:
Our partners
This project has been funded by the Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund