Thread by @AmoneyResists

Our country has reached a grim milestone. Over 600K Americans have died from COVID—a magnitude of loss we’ve never faced in our lifetimes. Linked is an invaluable Guide that lists the best internet resources available for grieving individuals (THREAD).
covidgriefresources.com

This Guide includes resources to help the bereaved manage painful emotions, build resilience, stay connected to others, develop coping skills, and practice self-care. There is also material on ways to help others who are grieving, such as the best and worst things to say to them.

Nearly 4 million people have died as a result of the pandemic. Tens of millions have lost loved ones. This represents a tsunami of suffering. The bereaved must also bear the weight of collective grief; in which the distress we see all around us intensifies our own.

Deaths during COVID present overwhelming challenges for survivors. They are faced with additional issues brought about by the pandemic – insecurity about jobs, housing, food – which have disproportionally affected disadvantaged, underserved, and marginalized populations.

Despite the current hopefulness generated by the vaccines, lifelong assumptions about safety and security have been shattered and an unprecedented wave of mental health problems has begun, creating an epidemic of grief that will long outlast the pandemic itself.

As the nation reopens and people try to return to normal, those who’ve lost a loved one are faced with grieving amidst a climate of optimism they simply cannot partake in. For them, life will never be normal again and it feels as though they must learn to cope in solitude.

In addition, we are experiencing record rates of depression, stress, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Mental health professionals have also seen dramatic increases in addiction, domestic violence, child abuse and suicide since the pandemic began just over a year ago.

A leading grief expert and her team reviewed hundreds of websites for resources that would empower those who are grieving, enable self-compassion and let the bereaved know that they are not alone. The most valuable resources from nearly 100 sites were incorporated into this Guide

Some websites focus on helping people process their grief. Others focus on a specific issue, such as how to explain death to a child. Some address practical aspects of loss, like how to cancel your loved one’s social media accounts. Many provide sources for emotional support.

This is an excellent resource for anyone who is grieving, not just those impacted by the pandemic. Even if you haven’t personally suffered a loss, it provides guidance for you to support those who have. It also underscores that there is not a “right way” to grieve.

Beating this pandemic means more than just containing the virus, but helping people move forward with their lives. I’m so proud to have been able to play a role in this project and hope this Resource Guide will be useful to anyone who has been emotionally impacted by COVID.

To access the Guide, visit covidgriefresources.com and click on “Click Here to Download the Internet Resource Guide: COVID-19 and Grief.” Please RT this thread and share the Guide with anyone you know who is currently struggling to help us combat this mental health crisis.