COVID-19, Prolonged Grief Disorder and the role of social work

Abstract

The death rate that we are seeing from COVID-19 is unimaginable, with experts predicting the pandemic will ultimately claim hundreds of thousands of lives. The death toll has already far exceeded the total population of renown cities such as Miami, USA or Canberra, Australia. Behind each death listed as a statistic, there is a social network of family and friends who will be profoundly impacted by the loss. The usual funerals, rituals and customs that occur after a death are now the new casualty of the virus. Indisputably, restrictions are necessary to curb the spread; however, concerns are raised regarding how this will impede on the ‘normal’ grieving process. Undoubtedly, there will be a surge in persons developing bereavement complexities in future years, with a direct correlated link to COVID-19.