Bereavement During the COVID-19 Pandemic: New National Survey of Bereavement Services Now Open

Dr Eileen Sutton
Senior Research Associate - COVID Bereavement Study

In the last year we have witnessed an unprecedented loss of life in the UK, with millions of people bereaved in exceptionally difficult circumstances. Researchers at the University of Bristol and Cardiff University are working on an important national study to find out more about people’s experiences of bereavement and the impact on bereavement support services at this time. The study is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and the findings will directly influence policy and practice in the future.

It is vitally important that the views and experiences of those providing bereavement support are represented, so the team are conducting a survey open until 30 April to document how bereavement service providers in the voluntary/community sector have been affected over the course of the pandemic. Bereavement services have faced many challenges and have had to adapt rapidly to meet the needs of the people they support and the rising demand for their help. The survey will document these challenges and the innovations of bereavement services, providing an opportunity for staff and volunteers to have their voices heard and influence policy and future service provision. Only one person at each organisation needs to complete the survey (usually the manager or bereavement service coordinator).

The research also includes a survey of people bereaved since 16 March 2020. Preliminary results reveal the exceptionally difficult experiences associated with bereavement during the pandemic. People completing the survey described a high level of disruption to end of life, death and mourning practices, as well as to their social support networks. They will be followed up over the coming months and a number of people will be invited to take part in an interview so that they can talk in more depth about their experiences.

Please visit covidbereavement.com for more information and to compete the survey, which is open until 30 April 2021.

The team appreciate that this is a busy time for all those working in bereavement support and are really grateful for all those who take time to share their experiences and help with this important work.

Access the survey and more information at: covidbereavement.com

For further information on the research study and survey of bereavement support services go to www.covidbereavement.com or contact: Eileen Sutton (email: [email protected] Tel: 07977021723)