Grappling With Grief: Approaching Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As of August 8, 2021, there have been more than 4,265,903 deaths and 200,840,180 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported by the World Health Organization (1). Individuals are additionally experiencing loss of jobs and loss of connection with the community. With the large number of deaths, the unexpected deaths of previously healthy or young individuals, the lack of traditional bereavement practices, disrupted routines, and disconnected social support systems, there is concern that the COVID-19 pandemic will contribute to an increase in mental health conditions, including prolonged grief disorder. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Robillard et al. (2) have reported increased rates of anxiety and depression in individuals without a prior psychiatric history and worsening of symptoms in those with preexisting psychiatric conditions. Eisma and Tamminga (3) have demonstrated that a recent, personal loss during the pandemic resulted in higher grief severity, compared with a recent loss before the pandemic.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created an environment in which individuals are susceptible to amplified grief, there are strategies to face this challenging time, particularly, Worden's grief task concept. Worden describes four tasks in the mourning process: accepting the reality of loss, working through the pain of grief, adjusting to an environment in which the deceased or lost is missing, and emotionally relocating the deceased or lost (4). Rather than stages of grief, which implies linearity, or phases of grief, which implies passivity, Worden's task-based framework is beneficial because it focuses on adaptation and active engagement. Because of ongoing changes in the virus itself and a lack of consistently applied guidelines to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, losses of educational and occupational opportunities, as well as participation in social networks, will ebb and flow. Therefore, Worden's approach is advantageous because it creates strategies for confronting and adjusting to various situations, ultimately promoting active progression through loss. It empowers individuals with a sense of action steps and purposeful development. Specifically, Worden explains the task of emotional relocation by motivating mourners to memorialize loss in a manner that prevents further deterioration (4). COVID-19 is changing the world and irreversibly shaping individual lives. Navigating through the mourning process while utilizing emotional relocation encourages recognition of and recovery from the losses faced during this period (see Box 1).

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense loss globally. Grieving in response to these losses is normal and appropriate; however, the circumstances in which we are grieving are novel. This task-based approach to grief, with emphasis on emotional relocation, will provide a more constructive perspective on the mourning process during this specific pandemic.