Revista de Enfermagem e Cuidados

Unexpressed grief in the families of patients deceased by covid-19 in iran: consideration for health care providers

Abstract

Mohammad Ali Yadegary, Ali Aghajanloo, Nahid Dehghan Nayeri

The severity of grief is subject to the individual's experience of loss, the age of the deceased, and the condition of death of the loved one. The peace of survivors is possible provided that there is an appropriate understanding of the death circumstance. This issue is completely related to the context and is influenced by the associated culture in societies. Unexpected death without burial and mourning ceremonies due to the prevalence of COVID-19 has affected typical grief process in the family of the deceased. Negative and painful emotions must be resolved by the human psyche, otherwise the condition for unexpressed grief will be provided. The challenges of the pandemic crisis ought to be acknowledged as an inevitable part of human life, and our goals and programs should be practical and tangible to alleviate the psychological pain and burden imposed on the survivors. Pertinacity against inevitable issues such as death and resistance to attain inner peace and happiness in life are not signs of love and affection for the deceased. In addition, the principle of physical distancing should be replaced by social distancing.