Abstract
Presently, there is a real possibility of a second pandemic occurring: a grief pandemic. There are estimated to be over 1 million children and young people experiencing bereavement because of Covid-19. Adolescent grief is unique due to bio-psycho-social factors such as increased risk-taking, identity-formation, and limited capacity for emotional regulation. In this article, we will argue that adolescents are at increased risk of developing complicated grief during the Covid-19 pandemic, and that it is vital that services are improved to recognize and address this need before secondary problems emerge, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Complicated grief in adolescents is widely underrecognized and often misdiagnosed as a range of mental health problems, addictions, and offending behavior. For example, 25% of <20 year olds who commit suicide have experienced childhood bereavement, whilst 41% of youth offenders have experienced childhood bereavement; this is in comparison with only 4% of the general population. Many of the broader risk factors for complicated grief were already increasing prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, including increased loneliness amongst young people, and the collapse of collective structures to help people manage grief. We propose that this pandemic could be a catalyst for mental health professionals to support and nurture the caring communities emerging in this time as an essential resource to prevent the onset of a grief pandemic.
Highlights
Covid-19 has resulted in over 2 million deaths globally [1]
Adolescent grief during Covid-19 is certainly complicated, but hope is a critical resource that can turn a traumatic event into an opportunity for post-traumatic growth [72]. In these most challenging of times, how can we find and nurture hope for bereaved adolescents? Here, we consider two pathways: Clinical
We have shown that many of the social factors increasing the risk of complicated grief (CG) in this pandemic were already increasing pre-Covid-19
Summary
Covid-19 has resulted in over 2 million deaths globally [1]. Whilst attention has mainly focused on overcoming the virus, there is an urgent need to prepare for the prospect of a “grief pandemic” [2]. We have shown that many of the social factors increasing the risk of CG in this pandemic were already increasing pre-Covid-19 This pandemic has exposed the mental health burden that arises in societies where grief is stigmatized, social isolation and digital immersion are pervasive, and collective structures for healing and mutual support are withering. A systematic review on loneliness and young people’s mental health concluded “finding ways to give children and adolescents a sense of belonging...and to feel that they are part of a wider community should be a priority” [80] This pandemic is providing an opportunity to highlight community structures to help vulnerable young people grieve. There is increasing evidence for the positive impact of interventions focused on adolescent empowerment and critical consciousness [85,86,87]
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