Listen: Is the UK ready for the grief pandemic?

Many were surprised by the recent scenes of ‘lockdown easing’ measures, but for those who have lost someone within the pandemic, the scenes may have been even more impactful as many feel they have effectively had to put their grief ‘on hold’ due to lockdown restrictions.

Thankfully, many of the restrictions put in place around attending funerals are easing – but is this bottled up grief and unexpressed emotion looming over the UK?

A new report out today estimates that 9.7M mourners have been denied the opportunity to say their last goodbye at their loved one’s funeral, which has played a vital role in the grieving process for millennia.

The report from Cruse Bereavement Care and the Co-op reveals that, although essential, the restrictions put in place for safekeeping have severely impacted their ability to grieve for 130,000 bereaved families throughout the pandemic. On top of this, 61% of those who have lost someone say nothing has helped them.

For many, an element of guilt may be creeping in. 58% of those who have lost someone to COVID-19 say being present when their loved one passed away was the most important thing, but so many families won’t have been able to due to restrictions in place.

During this period, most will have had to grieve in isolation, unable to attend and say goodbye and be close to the ones they love in their final days and hours. Many will feel that they have had no control over their feelings which will have had a profound impact on the grieving process.

Aston spoke to Raegan Drew, former model and is now one of the youngest funeral directors in the UK at Co-op to discuss more about what you can do if you are struggling or if you know someone who might be.

Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash