COVID-19 Related Loss

Much of the media coverage on the COVID-19 pandemic has focused on the number of people who are gravely ill and who have died from the virus. As of April 2022, the worldwide death toll is over six million (WHO Coronavirus Dashboard). Although we see and hear these numbers daily, we rarely hear about those who are experiencing mourning and grief. According to Cadell (2021, para. 11), “it is estimated that for every one person who dies, there are five left grieving those loses.” However, as noted in the previous sections of this chapter, grief is not just a reaction to death but can also be tied to other forms of loss.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have experienced loss on multiple levels. There is the loss tied to physical, economic, and housing security. There is the psychological toll tied to a lack of emotional and physical connection, relationships, and mental health support that help us through difficult times (Cadell, 2021; CMHA, 2014). We are also losing a sense of predictability in or control over our lives, including our ability to protect our loved ones, especially the most vulnerable (children, elderly) (Weir, 2020). And there are the losses associated with the pandemic’s impact on healthcare, education, and world economic stability and peace (Weir, 2020). Not only does postponing, curtailing, or eliminating end-of-life rituals impact both how we mourn the dead and grieve, it impacts how we grieve all of these losses (Cadell, 2021; Phillips, 2021).

The Need for a National Grief Strategy

In the U.S., while there is no formally enacted “national grief strategy,” federal efforts are beginning to approximate parts of the concept. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leads national efforts in behavioral health promotion and has recently begun issuing resources on grief and bereavement (SAMHSA, 2025). In 2023, Congress commissioned a report to Congress on bereavement and grief services, and SAMHSA released the first federal grief and bereavement fact sheets in 2025 as part of expanded public resources (SAMHSA, 2025; HHS ASPE, 2023). Moreover, Representative Joe Morelle has proposed legislation for a National Grief Strategy to promote awareness, stigma reduction, and coordinated support systems (Morelle, 2022). At the same time, the U.S. observes National Grief Awareness Week to encourage public dialogue and reduce the isolation of grief (SAMHSA, 2024). Nonetheless, the U.S. falls short of a fully integrated policy framework: the absence of a mandated coordination structure, stable funding, and uniform metrics highlights the need for more intentional federal leadership and sustained investment.