Six alternative ways for you to mark the passing of a loved one

The current coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of family and friends being able to mark the passing of loved ones, even if it is not possible to say goodbye to them in more traditional ways.

In light of this being the case, The British Psychological Society’s Covid-19 bereavement task force has released a new online leaflet, designed to help people through a difficult time.

Continuing Bonds suggests a number of alternative ways to help people remember their friends and family who die due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Funerals are currently disrupted, with the number of attendees limited in many cases, due to the social distancing restrictions that needed to be put in place to control the spread of the virus.

However, it is still very important for the grieving process that we are able to mark someone’s passing, particularly if a regular funeral is not possible.

The leaflet  offers six suggestions.

They include simple gestures like lighting a special candle or planting a seed, alongside ways to make a lasting tribute, such as a virtual memorial, Facebook page or a memory box.

Professor Nichola Rooney, chair of the BPS’s Covid-19 bereavement task force, said: “Sadly many more people than normal are experiencing bereavement right now, and the emotional effects of this are exacerbated by us being unable to see friends and family, or have funerals as we would normally do.

“It’s crucial that we are able to mark the time of someone’s passing, and I hope that these straightforward suggestions do help people to do that, even if it is only an interim solution until larger gatherings and memorial services are possible.”

Continuing Bonds is the latest in a suite of resources that have been produced by the BPS’s Covid-19 bereavement task force. These can be viewed on its website.

To view the advice, visit https://www.bps.org.uk/coronavirus-resources/public/continuing-bonds

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