Commentary on: A Call to Action: Facing the Shadow Pandemic of Complicated Forms of Grief.

Maarten C Eisma,Paul A Boelen

doi:10.1177/00302228211016227

Abstract

In this contribution, we respond to a letter in Omega: Journal of Death and Dying by Doka. Signatories of this letter to the President of the United States convey concerns that deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a higher prevalence of severe and persistent grief, i.e., prolonged grief disorder. We support their call to action to direct government funding to helping those who develop this condition during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we think that concerns about prolonged grief disorder during the pandemic can be more convincingly conveyed by firmly embedding such concerns within scientific literature. Therefore, we highlight prior scientifically informed opinion pieces from various international researchers who voiced similar concerns in the early months of the pandemic. Additionally, we provide an overview of pioneering empirical research elucidating whether prolonged grief disorder and related mental health problems will become more prevalent during the pandemic.

Highlights

In this contribution, we respond to a letter in Omega: Journal of Death and Dying by Doka
We share the concerns voiced by signatories of this letter that the characteristics and circumstances of deaths due to COVID-19 will likely precipitate a heightened prevalence of severe, persistent, and disabling grief, termed prolonged grief disorder (Eisma et al, 2020)
We think that the call for more attention for grief during and after the pandemic could be delivered with even greater force by embedding it within scientific literature

Summary

Introduction

We respond to a letter in Omega: Journal of Death and Dying by Doka. We share the concerns voiced by signatories of this letter that the characteristics and circumstances of deaths due to COVID-19 will likely precipitate a heightened prevalence of severe, persistent, and disabling grief, termed prolonged grief disorder (Eisma et al, 2020). To demonstrate the validity of concerns about rising prevalence of prolonged grief disorder during the pandemic, it is valuable to consider prior scientific writings in this area.

Results

Conclusion