Grief-COVID-19 Resources

Internet Resource Guide for Those Who Are Grieving the Loss of a Loved One During the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

This list was developed by Dr. Camille Wortman, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Stony Brook University, with her colleagues, Jessica Gregory and Chérie Mahady. As a specialist in grief and loss, Dr. Wortman is frequently consulted about treatment options for individuals who have become bereaved during this pandemic. She found that few opportunities exist for those who are currently struggling with grief. In addition, mental health resources are often unattainable for those who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic – people at the lowest socioeconomic level and people of color. Because of the way a death due to COVID-19 occurs, survivors are particularly likely to experience complicated grief (CG), also referred to as prolonged grief disorder. Given the overwhelming number of people who are grieving and may have nowhere else to turn, internet resources are becoming an increasingly important vehicle for sustaining mental health.

 

Dr. Wortman and her team have scrutinized well over 200 websites dealing with grief, trauma, and/or mental health. They were able to identify 56 websites that provide information relevant to grief and COVID-19. Together, the websites on this list offer a rich array of predominantly free resources, including articles, blog posts, booklets, podcasts, support groups, and video recordings, and are relevant for people across the lifespan. For example, one provides a list of questions to ask your funeral director; one discusses ways to honor a loved one’s death without a physical funeral; one describes how to cancel your loved one’s social media accounts; one addresses ways to manage grief while isolated from others; one provides suggestions for dealing with feelings of guilt and lack of closure; and one illustrates how to help children grieve for their grandparents. In addition, some websites provide information in other languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, among others. The information is current as of July 21, 2020. Although the specific content on a given website will change over time as new features are added, Dr. Wortman believes that readers will nonetheless find something of value on that website.

It is Dr. Wortman’s intention that this guide be distributed to those who may benefit from it. However, this document is for informational purposes only and does not serve as an endorsement of any particular website. Dr. Wortman welcomes recommendations regarding new additions to the list as well as suggestions regarding how this document can be improved. Please feel free to contact her at camille.wortman@stonybrook.edu.

 

 

  • American Psychological Association (https://www.apa.org/)
    • The American Psychological Association’s mission is to “promote the advancement, communication, and application of psychological science and knowledge to benefit society and improve lives.” They represent “more than 121,000 scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students as its members.”
    • Website features scientific research on mental health, a help center with “information related to psychological issues affecting your daily physical and emotional well-being”; a list of crisis hotlines (free, confidential telephone support including the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, National Domestic Violence Hotline, Veterans Crisis Line, Graduate Student Crisis Hotline, Child Abuse Hotline; National Sexual Assault Hotline, HIV & AIDs Hotline; Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Gamblers Anonymous) at https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/crisis; and educational resources for students and teachers. There are many articles and videos addressing non-grieving COVID concerns, such as “For People with Anorexia, COVID-19 Presents New Challenges” and “Managing COVID-19 Concerns for People with OCD”. There is a psychologist locator at https://locator.apa.org/; results can be refined by type of insurance; health concern or diagnosis; specialization by age group, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, religion, and ethnicity, treatment method and language.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles entitled “Grief and COVID-19: Saying Goodbye in the Age of Physical Distancing” (https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/grief-distance) which highlights the challenges of “missing final moments” and the development of CG; and “Grieving Life and Loss” (https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/06/covid-grieving-life) which describes “saying goodbye in the age of physical distancing” and “prolonged grief disorder” and the benefits of seeking psychological support

 

  • American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/)
    • “The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.” ​
    • Website features information about their volunteer services including blood collection, disaster preparedness and relief, support for members of the military and their families, and community education and outreach. The website is in English and Spanish.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Their “COVID-19 Grief Support Resources” page at https://www.redcross.org/virtual-family-assistance-center.html has a list of national resources including telephone support through their helplines and information on emotional support and grief counseling, faith-based resources, funeral information, legal resources, financial information services and veteran assistance. There are also links to community-based resources listed by state. They indicate that “for additional resources related to the death of a loved one due to COVID-19, please call 211 or 311 or a local information and resource center.”  In addition, the link to the Consumer Resources guide on “How to Close Social Medica Accounts of Deceased Loves Ones” at https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/vfac/NAAG-How-to-Close-Social-Media-Accounts-of-Deceased-Loved-Ones-2020.pdf

 

  • At A Loss (https://www.ataloss.org/)
    • “AtaLoss.org was founded in 2016 by Yvonne Richmond Tulloch to ensure that every bereaved person in the UK can find the support that they need.”
    • Website features bereavement resources that can be searched by type of loss, circumstance of death, religious affiliation, or resource type (e.g., book, website, poetry, article, etc.)
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles such as “What To Do If You Are Bereaved During the Coronavirus Pandemic” which provides suggestions to help people feel less alone; “How to Help Someone Bereaved During the Coronavirus Pandemic”; and “Supporting Children through the Coronavirus Pandemic” which covers “what to say to children and how to support them if they are bereaved” at https://www.ataloss.org/Pages/FAQs/Category/coronavirus-pandemic

 

 

 

 

  • Cake (https://www.joincake.com/)
    • The goal of Cake is to “empower people to live in accordance with their values all the way to the end [of life].”
    • Website features end-of-life planning resources and handling financial and personal matters after death such as writing obituaries, sending thank you notes to caregivers and doctors, managing mortgages and belongings, and canceling digital accounts, e.g., email and social media accounts.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles entitled “If You Can’t Hold a Traditional Funeral” and “If You’re Navigating Grief while Practicing Social Distancing” at https://www.joincake.com/blog/coronavirus-resources/ and a blogpost on “12 Things to Say If Someone Loses a Loved One to COVID-19” at https://www.joincake.com/blog/what-to-say-when-someone-loses-a-loved-one-to-covid-19/

 

  • Care for the Family (https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/)
    • “Care for the Family is a national charity which aims to promote strong family life and to help those who face family difficulties.” They are based in the UK.
    • Website features supports for those who are widowed young, bereaved parents, bereaved adult sibling support as well as general bereavement support.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles and videos including “Supporting Bereaved People During COVID-19” in which the speaker “shares her personal experience of grief and explores how grief affects us” and including “Grieving Alone During the COVID-19 Crisis” which offers suggestions on coping with loss; “Saying Goodbye During the COVID-19 Pandemic” which describes the challenges of holding services during the pandemic; and “Grief During Lockdown” which the author described her personal experience “of what it is like to lose a loved one to COVID-19” at https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/family-life/covid-19-support-for-your-family/bereavement-support

 

  • Center for American Indian Health (https://caih.jhu.edu/)
    • The Center for American Indian Health works “in partnership with American Indian and Alaska Native communities to improve the health status, self-sufficiency, and health leadership of Native people.”
    • Website features information on behavioral health, infection diseases and mental health issues affecting Native American communities.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Handouts and videos developed for tribal use regarding what members need to know about the coronavirus at https://caih.jhu.edu/news/covid19 for the general public and providers. Includes an article entitled “Children and Grief During COVID-19” at https://caih.jhu.edu/assets/documents/Children_and_Grief.pdf

 

  • The Center for Complicated Grief (https://complicatedgrief.columbia.edu)
    • “The Center for Complicated Grief is dedicated to improving the lives of people suffering from complicated grief [CG] by helping clinicians and the general public learn how to recognize [CG].”
    • Website features resources for professionals and for the public; the public content features a detailed explanation of CG including the circumstances under which it develops and how therapy can help; a ‘Find a Therapist’ link; information on the science and research about CG; resources with links to articles, self-assessment tools, and handouts; and the “GriefSteps for Parents” app (designed to help parents supporting grieving children).
    • COVID-19 Resources: Videos, podcasts, and handouts related to COVID-19 including those offered by Dr. M. Katherine Shear; examples include the podcast “Grieving Those Lost from the Pandemic” which “discusses how saying goodbye is even more complicated than usual” and the video “How the Discomfort of Grief Can Help Us: Recognizing and Adapting to Loss During COVID-19” which reviews “what grief is like, how to better understand what you are feeling, and ways to cope with the losses related to the pandemic” (both found at https://complicatedgrief.columbia.edu/professionals/complicated-grief-professionals/overview/); and the handout “Managing Bereavement around the Coronavirus (COVID-19)” which discusses the “process of adapting to the loss” and when to seek help at https://complicatedgrief.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Managing-Bereavement-Around-COVID-19-HSPH.pdf

 

  • The Center for Loss and Life Transition (https://www.centerforloss.com)
    • “The Center for Loss and Life Transition is dedicated to ‘companioning’ grieving people as they mourn significant transitions and losses that transform their lives.”
    • Website features resources for professionals (e.g., educational seminars for bereavement caregivers) and for the public (e.g., information about the fundamentals of grief and mourning) and links to articles and books by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles written by Dr. Wolfelt regarding loss from COVID-19 such as “Grieving a Coronavirus Death: Help for Special Circumstances” (which discusses the challenges of dealing with loss during the pandemic) and “The COVID-19 Mourner’s Bill of Rights” at https://www.centerforloss.com/category/articles/covid-19/ which describes the rights to “experience your own grief”, “talk about the death”, “feel a multitude of emotions”, “to be tolerant of your physician and emotional limits” and “experience ‘griefbursts’”

 

  • Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (https://www.cstsonline.org/)
    • The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress’ purpose is “advancing psychological health and resilience through trauma research, education and consultation.”
    • Website is relevant for both professionals and the general public and features fact sheets; publications; education and training; and research. Resources are offered in Spanish, French, Italian, and Japanese.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Article entitled “When a Loved One Dies from COVID-19” which includes a discussion on initial grief reactions, collective grief, and grief adaptation at https://www.cstsonline.org/assets/media/documents/CSTS_FS_When_a_Loved_One_Dies_from_COVID19.pdf

 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/)
    • “As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish our mission, CDC conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise.” The CDC offers much of their website information in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean, as well as printed articles in many other languages.
    • Website features information for the general public on diseases and conditions and healthy living. It also features information on international travel and resources by destination.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles on grief and loss during the pandemic including links to mental health resources, ways to cope with feelings of loss, and helping children cope with grief at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/stress-coping/grief-loss.html#loved-one; and funeral guidance including coping suggestions, how to practice social distancing while making arrangements and during the service, options for alternative arrangements, precautions with preparing the body and gathering loved ones’ possessions, and guidance if a loved one has died overseas at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/funeral-guidance.html

 

  • Child Bereavement UK (https://www.childbereavementuk.org/)
    • Child Bereavement UK “help children and young people (up to age 25), parents, and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. We also provide training to professionals, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.”
    • Website features articles, guides, and videos to support families when a baby or child dies or to support youths when a loved one dies as well as support for professionals and educators. Examples include “Explaining to a Child that Someone has Died”; “Explaining Funerals, Burials and Cremation to Children”; “When Someone is Not Expected to Live”; and “Helping Yourself Through Grief”.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles and videos such as those entitled “Holding a Funeral or Ceremony when You Cannot Meet – Ideas for Families” and “Coronavirus – Supporting Bereaved Children” at

https://www.childbereavementuk.org/pages/category/coronavirus

 

  • The Collective Psychology Project (https://www.collectivepsychology.org/)
    • “The Collective Psychology Project is a collaborative inquiry into how psychology and politics can be brought together in new, creative ways that help us to become a Larger Us instead of a Them-and-Us.”
    • COVID-19 Resources: Report entitled “This Too Shall Pass: Mourning Collective Loss in the Time of COVID-19” at https://www.collectivepsychology.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/This-Too-Shall-Pass.pdf which describes the lessons learned from our ancestors and how they can be applied today as well as practices to help us come to terms with grief as a way to honor both individual and collective grief

 

  • The Compassionate Friends (https://www.tcf.org.uk/)
    • “The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause.” The link takes to you the UK site.
    • Website features grief guides such as “Grief of the Newly Bereaved” and “Living with Grief”; stories from bereaved parents and siblings; and articles such as “Coping with Judgmental Attitudes”, “Coping with Special Occasions” and “Your Child’s Digital Legacy”.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Article entitled “Grieving the Death of Our Child During the Coronavirus Pandemic” which highlights the “turmoil caused by sudden death” and “adjusting to the painful reality of life” at https://www.tcf.org.uk/content/loss-during-covid-19–pandemic/

 

 

  • The Conversation Project (https://theconversationproject.org/)
    • “The Conversation Project is an initiative of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, a not-for-profit organization that is a leader in health and health care improvement worldwide.”
    • Website features information to help “people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care”.
    • COVID-19 Resources: End-of-life planning guide specific to COVID-19 in English and Spanish. There is a two-part blogpost entitled “Ritual and Grief in the Time of COVID-19” at https://theconversationproject.org/tcp-blog/ritual-and-grief-in-the-time-of-covid-19/

 

  • COVID Grief Network (https://www.covidgriefnetwork.org/)
    • The mission of the COVID Grief Network is “undoing isolation for young adults grieving the illness or death of someone close to COVID-19”
    • COVID-19 Resources: They are a group of therapists, chaplains, and community organizers providing short-term, one-on-one grief support for people in their 20s or 30s and who are experiencing grief about the death of a loved one to COVID-19. People can sign up to request support and professionals can volunteer to provide support at https://www.covidgriefnetwork.org/.

 

  • Cruse Bereavement Care (https://www.cruse.org.uk/)
    • Cruse Bereavement Care “is the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
    • Website features information on coping with grief; information about specific losses, such as the death of a parent or partner; traumatic bereavement; and recommendations on how to cope with loss or supporting those who have been bereaved. (Hope Again (https://www.hopeagain.org.uk/) is “the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Care” and features personal stories of bereaved youth.)
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles entitled “Grieving in Isolation” with suggestions on how to help yourself or others at https://www.cruse.org.uk/coronavirus/grieving-and-isolation; “Coronavirus: Grief and Trauma” which describes the feelings associated a sudden death at https://www.cruse.org.uk/coronavirus/trauma; and “Coronavirus: Feeling Your Bereavement is Not a Priority” which remind readers that their “own feelings are valid even if others are facing their own tragic circumstances” at https://www.cruse.org.uk/coronavirus/bereavemnt-priorities

 

  • The Dougy Center (https://www.dougy.org)
    • “The mission of The Dougy Center is to provide support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults and their families grieving a death can share their experiences.”
    • Website features an extensive list of grief resources (including tip sheets in English, Spanish, Japanese, and French), videos, blogs, interviews, and a podcast entitled Grief Out Loud (“a mix of personal stories, tips for supporting children, teens, and yourself, and interviews with bereavement professionals”).
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles on how to help grieving children and teens such as “When Your World is Already Upside Down: Supporting Grieving Children and Teens During COVID-19” at https://www.dougy.org/news-events/supporting-grieving-children-and-teens-during-the-covid-19-health-crisis/

 

  • Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com)
    • “Eventbrite is a global self-service ticketing platform for live experiences that allows anyone to create, share, find and attend events that fuel their passions and enrich their lives.”
    • Website features an extensive list of events throughout the world.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Free and fee-based seminars for professionals and the general public; to find events, use search terms pertaining to those grieving during the COVID-19 pandemic (such as “COVID-19 grief”). Examples include “Overcoming Loss During COVID-19”; “Light a Candle to Remember People Who Have Died During This Pandemic”; “Centering Black Grief”; and “Grief at Work COVID 19: Supporting Colleagues and Staff Who are Grieving”.

 

 

  • Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/)
    • Facebook has a search feature which allows the general public and professionals to identify groups and events of interest. There are general grief support groups as well as those for a specific loss, such as parent, spouse, sibling, child, family member or friend.
    • COVID-19 Resources: There are pages specifically for losses due to COVID, including “COVID-19 Coronavirus Grief Support Group”; “COVID-19 Grief Support”; “COVID-19 Widows Grief Support”; and “In Memoriam for COVID-19 Grief and Loss”. Some organizations also offer webinars or live events on Facebook. Examples of past COVID-19 related events include “Grief, Loss and Coping Amid COVID-19” and “COVID-19 Loss Support Group”.

 

  • Finding Our Way: Together While Apart (https://findingourway.prolongedgrief.com/)
    • The purpose of Finding Our Way: Together While Apart is to “document the losses you are experiencing and understand how the circumstances have shaped your bereavement and affected your ability to cope. With the information we collect we hope to help others bereaved by the pandemic.”
    • COVID-19 Resources: The website has a “Grief Intensity Scale” and “Bereavement Challenges Inventory” to help people gain a better understanding of their feelings and the challenges that lie ahead; links to general and COVID-19 specific grief resources; and a “coping module” (a four-step exercise to help people connect with others and identify the support they need)

 

  • Funeral Service Foundation (https://www.funeralservicefoundation.org/)
    • The Funeral Service Foundation supports funeral homes “in building meaningful relationships with the families and the communities [they] serve.”
    • Website features resources for families and funeral service professionals such as end-of-life planning and incorporating youth at funerals.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Booklet available in English and Spanish entitled “Grieving Alone & Together: Responding to the loss of your loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic” at https://www.funeralservicefoundation.org/grief-book-page/ which addresses “the challenges of grieving a loved one’s death during the COVID-19 pandemic”, “the importance of talking to children about death and memorialization and the difficulties of being separated from a loved one at the time of their death”, and “how families can meaningfully celebrate the life of their loved one”

 

  • Good Grief (good-grief.org)
    • “Good Grief provides direct support to grieving children and youth, educates communities, and advocates on behalf of the bereaved.”
    • Website features handouts in English and Spanish and videos for parents and professionals to help children build resiliency (including tips for reducing isolation; practicing self-kindness; and mindfulness and deep breathing exercises) as well as information about how grief impacts children in each of their developmental stages.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Booklet entitled “Funerals in the Time of a Pandemic: A Toolkit for Children & Families”; articles such as “Supporting the Bereaved During COVID-19; videos such as “What Do We Tell the Children: Talking About Death During a Pandemic”; and a 10-part podcast series providing Good Grief’s perspective on “the importance of memorializing family and friends in this time of COVID-19, social distancing, and limited group gatherings” at https://good-grief.org/covid-19/

 

  • The Good Grief Trust (https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/)
    • “All of us at The Good Grief Trust have lost someone we love, so we want to help you find the support you need as quickly as possible. You will find stories from others who have had a similar loss, practical and emotional support.” They are based in the United Kingdom.
    • Website features articles, videos, and book suggestions for the general public and professionals based on the relationship of who was lost (e.g., child, parent, sibling, partner, friend) and the type of support that is needed (e.g., newly bereaved, young people, over 50s, etc.) The website features LGBTQ+- friendly material including the booklet entitled “Making Informed Choices When Planning a Funeral: A Guide for Queer People” at https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Standard-PDF-queer-funeral-guide.pdf.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Website features a collection of links to find support for those bereaved from a COVID-19 loss; for example, support for the newly bereaved, support for children, information about funerals, and grieving in isolation at https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/need-know-info/coronavirus-bereavement-advice/.

 

  • Grief (https://grief.com)
    • Grief’s website states “helping others heal from grief is our mission. We serve family, friends and professionals with videos, books, workshops and speaking engagements.”
    • Website features works by David Kessler, such as his book Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief; articles such as “Helping Children Cope with Tragedy”, “Grief and the Holidays” and “Grief in the Workplace”; and videos such as “What Is Journaling and How Can It Help Me Grieve?”; “How To Move Past Your Grief In A Healthy Way?”; “How do I Fill the Gap My Loved One Has Left?” and “Healing the Five Areas of Grief”.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Mr. Kessler hosts a daily online grief support group on Facebook for adults at https://www.facebook.com/groups/DavidKessler entitled “Grief: Releasing Pain, Remembering Love and Finding Meaning”.

 

  • Grief Encounter (https://www.griefencounter.org.uk/)
    • Grief Encounter “support[s] bereaved children and their families to help alleviate the pain caused by the death of someone close.” They are based in the UK.
    • Website features articles and videos with advice for families (such as what to tell a child when someone has died or explaining suicide, murder, and accidental death); comedy about grief; poems; and guides such as “Teenager’s Guide to Getting on with Life After Death”.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles entitled “Telling Children and Young People Someone Has Died from Coronavirus” and “How to Say Goodbye When Attending a Funeral Isn’t Possible” at https://www.griefencounter.org.uk/serviceupdate/

 

  • com (https://forums.grieving.com)
    • “Grieving.com is a community of grieving people supporting other grieving people.”
    • Websites features many forums focused on different types of losses, caregiving, and non-death losses. Examples include forums on loss of a parent, child, partner, or sibling.
    • COVID-19 Forum: Online discussion site where members can post comments to communicate with one another at https://forums.grieving.com/index.php?/forum/94-covid-19/

 

  • Irish Hospice Foundation (https://hospicefoundation.ie/)
    • “The Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) is a national charity, set up in 1986 to fund and develop hospice services. Since then we have expanded our scope to encompass the key issues affecting the end of life. Our programmes and services now seek to address the needs of people dying at home, in hospitals and in other care settings, and also the needs of those bereaved.”
    • Websites features information about hospice and support for those who are bereaved, including handouts focused on different types of loss (e.g., children’s grief, adolescent grief, adults grieving the death of a parent, and coping with the death of a same sex partner) and audio and video recordings focusing on the different aspects of grief.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles and videos including “Grieving in an Exceptional Time” which describes self-care and how to offer support to others; “Acknowledging and Coping with Grief from a COVID-19 Death” which describes the different feelings a bereaved person may experience after a loss due to COVID-19; “Supporting Teenagers to Grieve Under COVID-19 Restrictions” which gives suggestions on how teenagers can harness social media as a resource to engage in grieving; and “Helping Children Grieve Under COVID-19 Restrictions” which provides guidance for adults to help bereaved children at https://hospicefoundation.ie/covid19careandinform/support-and-advice-on-grief-and-loss/

 

  • Legacy (https://www.legacy.com)
    • “Legacy.com is the place where the world pauses to embrace the power of a life well-lived. We believe that a single life story can provide extraordinary inspiration, even after that person has died. So we champion every life, knowing it can connect us in unexpected, powerful ways.”
    • Website features a “Living with Grief” page that has “information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you” at https://www.legacy.com/tag/grieving/ with links to “Planning Resources”; “Sympathy Advice”; and “Honoring a Life”. Legacy.com also moderates many Facebook support groups (for example, loss of a parent, spouse, sibling, child, family member or friend) at https://www.legacy.com/advice/find-comfort-in-legacys-grief-support-groups/.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles entitled “How to Express Sympathy & Grief While Social Distancing”; “Funerals During the COVID-19 Coronavirus Epidemic: How to Plan”; and “How to Serve as Estate Executor During a Pandemic” at https://www.legacy.com/tag/covid-19-updates/

 

 

  • Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network (https://mhttcnetwork.org/)
    • “The purpose of the MHTTC Network is technology transfer – disseminating and implementing evidence-based practices for mental disorders into the field.” There are 10 regional networks throughout the United States, a National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC, and a National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC.
    • Website features resources for professionals and the general public, including “The Well-Being Series” entitled “Connections During COVID-19: Mental Wellness Webinars for Families and Educators” at https://mhttcnetwork.org/centers/northwest-mhttc/well-being-series
    • COVID-19 Resources: “Virtual learning series on grief sensitivity and grief counseling during COVID-19” including “Pandemia: Restoring the Wounded Soul. Latino Reflections on the Meaning of Loss, Grief, and Rituals” which “discusses the experience of loss and grief for Latinos during the current pandemic, including physical and symbolic losses” and is geared towards professionals at https://mhttcnetwork.org/centers/global-mhttc/responding-covid-19-grief-loss-and-bereavement; and “Ambiguous Loss: Grieving in the Time of COVID-19” which gives “an overview of what grief looks like at any time but especially during a time of ambiguous loss” and suggestions for “how to care for yourself and others in a time of uncertainty” for the general public at https://mhttcnetwork.org/centers/northwest-mhttc/product/ambiguous-loss-grieving-time-covid-19-followed-live-qa-session

 

  • Modern Loss (https://modernloss.com)
    • “Modern Loss is a place to share the unspeakably taboo, unbelievably hilarious, and unexpectedly beautiful terrain of navigating your life after a death. Beginners welcome.” Includes “resources that [aren’t] too clinical, overtly religious, patronizing or, frankly, cheesy.”
    • Website features “diverse personal essays from diverse people who have experienced all kinds of loss” such as “My Relationship With My Dad Changed After My Mom Died”, “How To: Avoid Family Conflict When There’s No Estate Plan”, “What to Keep When Someone Dies”, and “The 9 Things No One Tells You About Scattering Ashes”.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles entitled “Young Widowhood in the Time of Corona” in which the author discusses how she is “learning to navigate the space between personal and collective grief” at https://modernloss.com/young-widowhood-in-the-time-of-corona/ and “The Grief Cliché of the COVID Era” where the author writes “my late brother would have been extremely susceptible to the virus that has upended our lives. But don’t tell me to be grateful that he’s gone” at https://modernloss.com/the-grief-cliche-of-the-covid-era/

 

  • National Alliance for Grieving Children (https://childrengrieve.org)
    • “The National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC) is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the needs of children and teens who are grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone who supports them.”
    • Website features a list of affiliated grief support service providers (organizations who offer help for families through counseling, peer support, support groups, and other related activities) throughout the United States and Canada; resources to support grieving children (e.g., articles, activity books, and a toolkit); and educational opportunities for professionals).
    • COVID-19 Resources: Webinars for grieving families such as “Children & Funerals in a Global Pandemic” and “Defining Your Family Grief Values: Finding True North in a Chaotic World” at https://childrengrieve.org/education/online-learning. (Look for those designated by the “COVID Response Series” descriptor.)

 

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (https://www.nami.org/home)
    • The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is “the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.” They “educate, advocate, listen and lead to improve the lives of people with mental illness and their loved ones.”
    • Website features information about the common signs of mental illness, designed both for individuals with mental illness as well as for family members. In addition, there is information about the NAMI helpline, a free nationwide peer support service providing information, emotional support, and practical advice for those living with mental illness. There are also links to local NAMI chapters, support groups (for adults or families), and online discussion groups.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Booklet entitled “COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide” which contains links to general information about COVID-19, phone or online connections for those who feel isolated, managing stress and anxiety triggered by the pandemic, and tips for locating a religious community. It also offers advice on how to obtain support after losing a loved one, such as contacting the local NAMI affiliate at https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/NAMI-HelpLine/COVID-19-Information-and-Resources/COVID-19-Guide.pdf

 

  • National Bereavement Alliance (https://nationalbereavementalliance.org.uk/)
    • “The National Bereavement Alliance vision is that all people have awareness of and access to support and services throughout their bereavement experience.” They are based in the UK.
    • Website is for both professionals and the general public and features resources for “those who work with bereaved people” including guides entitled “Keeping in Touch When Someone Is Seriously Ill” and “Care After Caring”.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Summary entitled “Bereavement services and COVID-19: Resources” with links to supportive materials for the general public and professionals including common reactions after bereavement, developing new mourning rituals, supporting bereaved youth, and self-care for those working in bereavement services at https://nationalbereavementalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bereavement-services-and-COVID-19-resources.pdf

 

 

  • OUR HOUSE (https://www.ourhouse-grief.org/)
    • “The OUR HOUSE mission is to provide the community with grief support services, education, resources, and hope. Since 1993, OUR HOUSE has helped thousands of grieving children, teens, and adults as they embark upon their journeys to hope and healing.”
    • Website features “grief support resources for every griever”, with information specific to grieving adults, teens and children in English and Spanish.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Grief support blog includes posts such as “Grieving While Practicing Social Distancing During COVID-19”; “Death and Traditional Rituals During COVID-19”; “Family Grieving During COVID-19”; and “Explaining Death to Kids and Teens When Someone Dies of COVID-19” at https://www.ourhouse-grief.org/grief-support-blog/

 

 

  • Psych Central (http://psychcentral.com)
    • “Psych Central is the Internet’s largest and oldest independent mental health online resource.”
    • Website features information about mental health conditions and treatment information, “Ask the Therapist” advice column and links to find a therapist. In addition, the website has an extensive online forum including over 250 support groups for individuals struggling with such problems as addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and OCD; support for those suffering from grief and loss, disabilities and chronic diseases; and general forums for teens, seniors, and the LGBTQ+ community.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Blogposts such as “What a Pandemic Does to Grief” which discusses how mourning has changed and how grief symptoms present in a different way at https://psychcentral.com/blog/what-a-pandemic-does-to-grief/ and “Grief & Loss in the Time of Coronavirus” which describes the different circumstances of a COVID-19 related death and suggestions to honor a loved one’s death without a physical funeral at https://psychcentral.com/blog/grief-loss-in-the-time-of-coronavirus/

 

 

  • Public Health Agency (https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/)
    • “The Public Health Agency (PHA) was established in April 2009 as part of the reforms to Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland. We are the major regional organisation for health protection and health and social wellbeing improvement. Our role also commits us to addressing the causes and associated inequalities of preventable ill-health and lack of wellbeing.”
    • COVID-19 Resources: Booklets entitled “Grief and Bereavement During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Supporting Yourself and Others” feelings and thoughts that one might

experience after the death of a loved one and how to support others at https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/2020-06/Covid-19%20Grief%20and%20bereavement%20Support%20A5%20Booklet%2006_20%20final.pdf; “Death and Grief During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Supporting Each Other Following the Death of a Colleague” which describes how to cope with the death of a colleague at https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/death-and-grief-during-covid-19-pandemic-supporting-each-other-following-death; and “Saying Goodbye When Someone Special Dies” specifically written for children, at https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/2020-04/Saying%20Goodbye%20workbook%20for%20children%20Final%2004_20.pdf

 

 

 

  • com (https://www.shiva.com/)
    • Shiva is a weeklong period of mourning in Judaism following a loved one’s death. The authors of the website state, “After experiencing the loss in our lives, we needed help and guidance to better understand the end of life and shiva process. There wasn’t any. So we created it.”
    • Website features information about the traditions of shiva and Jewish mourning.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles such as “How the Coronavirus is Affecting Funerals and Shiva” which discusses social distancing and provide guidance as it relates to funerals, burials, and shivas; “Grief and Mourning During the COVID-19 Pandemic” which discusses how the changes to the grieving process creates further distress for the bereaved; “Post COVID-19 Planning a Jewish Funeral: ‘New Normal’” which offers considerations on how to “determine the safest and most appropriate way to honor your loved one”; and “Post-COVID-19 Funerals, Gatherings & PTSD” which discusses the development of PTSD from losing a loved one to COVID-19 at https://www.shiva.com/covid-19-coronavirus/

 

 

  • Soaring Spirits International (https://soaringspirits.org)
    • “Soaring Spirits’ mission is to provide programs, resources and a community of support for widowed people.”
    • Website features information for those who are newly widowed; an online community to “share thoughts with other widowed people”; and the “largest library in the world of blogs written by widowed people about love, grief, and life after the death of a partner”. Some of their events are specifically for the LGBTQ+ widowed community.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Guides such as “Grievers’ Tips for Self-Care Through COVID-19” (https://soaringspirits.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SSI-COVID-19-Tips.pdf); also offers group meetings for those widowed during/by COVID-19 via Zoom and a Widowed Pen Pal program (a peer support program) at https://soaringspirits.org/programs/virtual-covid-19-widowed-support/

 

 

 

  • Verywell Health (https://www.verywellhealth.com/)
    • “Verywell Health is an award-winning online resource for reliable, understandable, and up-to-date health information on the medical topics that matter most to you. We take a human approach to health and wellness content—a welcome alternative to hyper-clinical health sites.”
    • Website features a section related to end of life concerns, including articles on assisted living; hospice care; palliative care; pain and symptom control; the dying process; funeral and memorial planning; and grief and bereavement.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles entitled “Understanding Grief in the Age of the COVID-19 Pandemic” which highlights the feelings of guilt, lack of closure, loss of traditions and feelings of isolation that occur after an unexpected death and offers suggestions on ways to cope at https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-grief-in-the-age-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-4801931 and “Collective Trauma From COVID-19” which describes collective trauma (reactions to a traumatic event that affect an entire society), how it is caused and how to reduce it at https://www.verywellmind.com/collective-trauma-from-covid-19-4844357

 

  • Virtual Funeral Collective (https://www.covidpaper.org/)
    • “The Virtual Funeral Collective is a group of specialists who work with dying, death, and grief on a daily basis. We are uniquely situated to offer solutions, resources, and training to those dealing with dying, death, and disposition issues stemming from COVID-19.”
    • COVID-19 Resources: They are working to create a collection of resources and best practices at https://www.covidpaper.org/download including such topics as “COVID-19 Burial, Cremation and the Pandemic Funeral” and “Grieving in a Pandemic: Connection in a Difficult Time”

 

 

  • Willow House (https://www.willowhouse.org/)
    • The Willow House’s mission is “to support children, families, schools and communities who are coping with grief and the death of a loved one.”
    • Website features a description of grief reactions by age, and articles such as “Helping Children Cope with Grief”, “Helping a Grieving Friend”, “Myths and Misconceptions about Grief”, “Grief is Not a Mental Disorder”, “The Myth of ‘Stages of Grief’” and “Coping with Grief During the Holidays”.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Booklet entitled “Supporting Grieving Children and Teens in the Time of COVID-19” which describes grief reactions by age, self-care, and coping skills at https://www.willowhouse.org/covid-19/

 

  • Winston’s Wish (https://www.winstonswish.org/)
    • Winston’s Wish “support children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling.” They are based in the United Kingdom.
    • Website features resources for supporting bereaved children, including articles such as preparing a child for loss, talking about death, ways to remember people, and suggestions for stories and activities.
    • COVID-19 Resources: Articles entitled “How to Say Goodbye When A Funeral Isn’t Possible”; “Telling a Child Someone Has Died from Coronavirus”; and “Managing Grief in Self-Isolation” at https://www.winstonswish.org/coronavirus/

 

  • YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/)
    • COVID-19 Resources: Using search terms such as “coronavirus grief” on YouTube will result in a multitude of videos for the general public and professionals, such as “Social Impact LIVE: Loss and Grief During the Coronavirus Pandemic” by the Columbia University School of Social Work; “A New Type of Grief: Coping with Coronavirus” by the Cleveland Clinic; “How the Discomfort of Grief Can Help Us: Recognizing and Adapting to Loss During COVID-19” by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.