Grief counselling for COVID-19 families
As the Coronavirus tightens its grip on the nation’s health, more and more people are experiencing the loss of loved ones to the COVID-19 disease.
Since Coronavirus is so contagious, it’s impact can be felt not only in the deaths but also at the funerals of its victims.
Closed coffins are an absolute must at the funerals of those who have died as a result of COVID-19, since the virus can live on the corpse of a victim. Additionally, due to strict social distancing guidelines, funerals of victims will probably only allow for immediate family to be present, meaning funerals directors are having to find ways of live-streaming funerals to wider family and friends. What is worse, many victim’s closest family members may have to stay in self-isolation which will prevent them from attending the funeral at all.
The need for grief support therefore, will be acute during the next year, as the Coronavirus works its way through the population and one Christian organisation is trying to play their part. At A Loss offers an online griefchat service that is free to use and is a means of offering support when social distancing prevents face-to-face meetings.
At A Loss also enables local bereavement support groups to share information about their services which clients can locate via a postcode search on the website. If your church or organisation offers bereavement services to the local community, please visit www.ataloss.org to register your details and be listed on their directory.
Related posts
A magnificent moment! - Together Festival 23 took place on Saturday 8th July. You can read our account of the day here.
Churches work together to tackle youth unemployment - In order to tackle the growing unemployment statistics amongst 16-24 year-olds, central government has invested £2 billion in an initiative called “Kickstart” and churches across the Diocese of Lichfield are taking full advantage of it.
Together Apart 4 – A Year in Lockdown - We're happy to announce that we will be hosting our 4th regional Together Apart gathering on Sunday 9th May at 6pm, live on Facebook and Zoom.
Increasing need for education chaplaincy as schools return - As they return to school on 8th March after months out of formal education, thousands of children and young people across the Black Country will require far greater support than simply what school teachers are able to offer. Local churches can provide essential pastoral support for schools through chaplaincy partnerships and this has never been more essential than it is now.
Together Apart 3 – Watch it again! - On Sunday 21st February, we hosted Together Apart 3, a virtual gathering on Zoom and live-streamed to Facebook. The evening saw hundreds of Christians from churches all over the Black Country to celebrate the things that God is doing in our region and imagine what else He may have planned. You can watch the full meeting here.