The Bereavement Network Europe is gathering the bereavement information and resources which have been developed by colleagues across Europe. We want to gather:
- COVID-specific bereavement information and resources for bereaved people
- Protocols or ways of working in these changed times to share with professional colleagues.
These will be shared (in line with the BNE editorial policy) on the BNE website. If you have anything which may be included please email to info@bereavement.eu
Catalogue of losses and discoveries in Covid times – a European discussion among experts from Spain, Italy, and UK
COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Worldwide governments, experts from various fields and the public strive to find the best way how to handle the situation. However, countries are being hit differently. From March to June 2020 the UK, Spain and Italy seemed to be the most affected countries within Europe. With high death rates and strict measures to control the spread of infection, the context of bereavement has been exceptionally challenging as for example visitor restrictions made it almost impossible for many families to say good-bye in person, or care for the deceased in the way they would have wished. Such practices are of great importance as they impact on the bereavement process.
In this joint video-project between the University of Padua and the Bereavement Network Europe (BNE) bereavement experts from the UK, Spain and Italy offer their views on the situations that emerged in their respective countries. Drawing on their experiences they focus on their countries’ needs in short, medium and longterm perspectives including ideas how to handle the challenges the bereaved now face from Corona’s impact.
If you are watching this video from another country than these three, you may want to compare the issues addressed with the situation in your country, to move forward.
Selection of research articles on Covid-19
Stroebe, M., Schut, H. (2020). Bereavement in Times of COVID-19: A Review and Theoretical Framework. Omega-Journal of Death and Dying, 0(0), 1-23.
Resources across Europe
(Countries in alphabetical order)
Denmark
Det Nationale Sorgcenter – The Danish National Center for Grief
- Corona hotline for children and adolescents who are afraid of corona; and for parents who need help talking to their children; (particular target group: children and adolescents who live with critically ill parents or who have lost a parent recently) (in Danish only)
- How to talk to your children about corona / it is important to talk to children about illness and death (in Danish only)
- Funeral in exceptional times (translation/adaptation – original source: The Irish Hospice Foundation) (in Danish only)
- The Grief Directory provides a geographical overview of group-based grief counselling in Denmark. Some providers may offer support web-based due to corona. Take a look and reach out to ask them (in Danish only).
REHPA – Videncenter for Rehabilitering og Palliation (Knowledge Center for Rehabilitation and Palliation)
Finland
Nursing Research Foundation, NRF (Hotus in Finnish)
Germany
Aeternitas e.V.
Pflegewissenschaft (Nursing Science, Journal of Nursing Science and Practice)
Greece
MERIMNA – Association for the Care of Children and Families
- “Take care of yourself first, before supporting your children
during the spread of the coronavirus pandemic” (in Greek only) - “Engage in discussions and support your children during the
coronavirus pandemic” (in Greek only)
Ireland
Anam Cara – Supporting Parents After Bereavement
The Irish Hospice Foundation
Irish Childhood bereavement Network
Italy
De Leo Fund
Netherlands
ARQ Kenniscentrum Traumatische Rouw
Elsevier
Norway
Clinic for Crisis Psychology, Psychological Center
- Rituals in the corona era (in English)
- Living with grief during the corona era (in English)
- Dealing with COVID-19 Deaths and Bereavements (in English)
- Living with grief in the corona era (in Arabic)
- Other material about the coronavirus
Scotland
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow
Spain
Instituto IPIR, Duelo y Pérdida
- Guide for people suffering a loss in times of the coronavirus (COVID-19) (in Spanish only)
- Course description for webinar: Grief due to COVID-19 therapeutic challenges in its approach (Target group: psychotherapists specialised in grief therapy) (in Spanish only).
- Watch the free webinar/course “Grief due to COVID-19 therapeutic challenges in its approach” (in Spanish only).
- Therapeutic challenges in grief by COVID19 (Spanish)