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During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, restrictions and physical isolation has affected the ways we are allowed to mourn.

This page takes around 7 minutes to read.

Introduction

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Many people find themselves isolated from family and friends who would normally provide support and comfort in the time following a bereavement. If the person who was bereaved was living together with their loved one who died, not being able to leave the place that is so full of memories can be very painful.

Physical isolation and home working do not only create barriers for someone who has been bereaved to receive support from family, friends and colleagues, but it can also make it more difficult for you and your colleague’s Line Manager to see how they are coping and might limit the kinds of support you are able to offer.

Further advice and guidance on ways to support a colleague who has been bereaved can be found under the HR section 'Supporting bereaved employees'. 

Although the pandemic situation is ever changing, there are a number of resources providing guidance on how to support someone who is coping with bereavement during this time. Please see the list below.

It is also important to remember that your staff (eg Line Managers or Mental Health First Aiders) who are supporting colleagues who have been bereaved, could themselves be in need of additional support and counselling.

Many of the resources below and in our Useful Resources section, such as the confidential helplines and online forums, can help both colleagues supporting others as well as people directly affected by bereavement.

Keeping in touch when you can't be with someone

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Visit the National Bereavement Alliance website to access ‘Keeping in touch with someone who is so ill they might die’. This guide suggests ways that you and your loved one can feel closer together, even at a distance.

These ideas are intended to help whether or not there is a hope that they will recover. The guide includes ideas for both children and adults.