Grief, Grenada & COVID (October Series)

 

Grenada's Ministry of Health has implemented specific measures to keep citizens safe before, during, and after funerals. 

The first part of memorial service within churches is not permitted. Health Protocols also prohibit burials having more than 20 people in attendance. Only a minimum of two people can officially identify the remains of the deceased before the coffin is sealed. Gatherings of persons from different households are discouraged, disrupting traditions such as third-night prayers and visits to the homes of the bereaved to console. 

 

Because of these repercussions and more, Central Health – Grenada is highlighting how these multiple layers cause trauma through a new October Series entitled “Grief, Grenada & COVID,” as the death of a loved one during these ‘covidious’ times can cause additional levels of emotional stress.

 

The first two installments of Grief, Grenada & COVID lean on Bishop Clyde Harvey Roman Catholic Diocese of St. George's in Grenada and Rev. Gerard Keens-Douglas, Senior Pastor of St. George’s Evangelical Church and Moderator for ECWI – Grenada, for advice. Spiritual leaders play a significant role in helping persons cope during types of crises. This strategy is recognized and encouraged by the World Health Organization. 

 

In a 2020 Interim Guidance entitled, Practical considerations and recommendations for religious leaders and faith-based communities in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance, 7 April 2020 (who.int), there is a subsection that focuses on safe burial practices. Within that portion, it states, “Faith leaders can help grieving families to ensure that their departed loved ones receive respectful, appropriate funerals and burial rites, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The document not only recognizes that mourners should be shown respect but also included, “If the family of the deceased wishes to view the body after its removal from the medical facility where the family member has died, they may be allowed to do so, in accordance with local physical distancing restriction, with no touching or kissing of the body and thorough handwashing before and after viewing.”

 

BishopClyde Harvey answers to questions:

1. How is a person supposed to wrap their mind around what has happened, plus missing the usual funeral process?
2. Any final words of comfort for those who are experiencing loss?

Rev. Gerard Keens-Douglas responds to: 

1. The impact of the protocols on the grieving process.
2. Request for words of comfort for those who are grieving.

 

Central Health – Grenada extends condolences to families who have lost someone due to COVID or other causes. It is the hope this October series can help someone.

Grief and When to Get Help

Grief - that feeling of intense sorrow can be a stressful time in a person’s life.   It transcends the loss of a loved one due to death as it can range from news of a devastating illness, loss of property after a natural disaster, realization of betrayal, divorce, death anniversaries, or of hearing of a favorite celebrity’s untimely death and other general disappointments.

There are five classic stages of grief a person may go through one at a time or another and not necessarily in the order that they appear in the list, but for most multiple stages can occur at the same time. 

  The stages are:

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

There is no cookie cutter way for a person to deal with grief, as each person is different.  The grieving process may feel like your emotions are tossing you around like the waves of the ocean.  This unfortunately is very normal and simply a part of the grieving process.  The final truth about grief is that the initial sting of the loss may wear off but a person never gets over it.  A person instead can learn to live within their ‘new normal’ when he or she gets to a place of acceptance.  Triggers however can make a person feel like they are revisiting the stages of grief all over again. Triggers are reminders that can be as subtle as a fragrance, dreams, or doing new things are realizing what once was is no longer a tangible reality.  However there are times when a person may need some additional support to walk them through their grieving process especially when the grief becomes debilitating.  Healthguide.org calls this complicated grief.

Symptoms of complicated grief include:

• Extreme anger or bitterness over the loss
• Searching for the person in familiar places
• Feeling that life is empty or meaningless
• Blame yourself for the loss or for failing to prevent it
• Unable to perform normal daily activities
• Denial or prolonged sense  of disbelief
• Avoiding things that remind you of your loved one

If you or someone you know is exhibiting any of signs of complicated grief it may be time to get some help. Counseling is typically available through pastoral or church ministries in all communities or from professional counseling services. 

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