COVID Grief: Spirituality & Religion
Spirituality & Religion as a Protective Factor:
Spirituality, religiousness, a connection with a higher power and personal rituals have been scientifically proven to reduce stress when faced with a challenging situation. Research shows that bereaved people with a spiritual life tend have an easier time making meaning of the death, reconnecting with their social network and demonstrating overall resiliency following a death of someone close.
COVID’s Impact:
COVID has significantly impacted spiritual and religious dimensions of grief due to the disruption of in-person gatherings, resulting in increased social isolation and feelings of helplessness. Many people have reported a tremendous sense of loss due to the inability to be physically present with their person throughout the dying process and subsequently for after-death rituals and traditions. The inability to perform traditional ceremonies has increased feelings of denial and prohibited many from moving forward in their grief process.
What to Do – suggestions for the bereaved:
- Recognize the possible disconnect. Despite virtual and reinvented rituals throughout the pandemic, many people report feelings of disbelief or denial related to their grief. Without the ability to practice religious or spiritual traditions, you are not alone if feeling disconnected from your spiritual network, worship space, or religious identity.
- Look for creative opportunities to integrate rituals. Consider bringing your community together with a prayer call chain or virtual vigil. Smaller gatherings or larger broadcasted rituals are also an option. Performing a grief ritual, even long after a person’s death, can have great benefits.
- Honor practices and traditions to the extent possible. It may be a customary practice to sit, visit, or wash the deceased body before burial. Work with your community to honor these practices by exploring alternatives using physical distance, personal protective equipment, or technology.
- Take time for deep reflection. Spirituality, religiousness, and personal rituals can help to transform your loss into personal development, also known as post-traumatic growth. In the depths of grief, you may find solace by leaning into reflective and redefining moments. Spiritual or religious communities can also be a place to seek meaning and reflection.
- Create a tradition. Consider reading a spiritual teaching, visiting a special place, cooking a meaningful meal, or integrating poetry, spoken word, music, mindfulness, movement, or any other activity that feels meaningful.
This is one protective factor of a series. For the comprehensive resource click here: COVID Grief: Protective Factors & the Impact of the Pandemic
This resource is made possible through a partnership with the Brave of Heart Fund, founded by the foundations of New York Life and Cigna, and administered by E4E Relief.
