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Co-op Funeralcare warns of pending grief issues


By Rachael Glennie

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The Co-op has released a report which reveals the devastating impact lockdown has had on Aberdeenshire's ability to grieve and warns the region could yet face a grief pandemic.

An online YouGov survey, commissioned by the UK’s leading funeral provider Co-op Funeralcare, shows that in the weeks following the start of the UK’s lockdown on March 23, 50 per cent of bereaved adults in Aberdeenshire have been denied their final farewell.

Although a necessary measure to protect our nation during the coronavirus pandemic, the restrictions on the number of funeral attendees mean that many have been unable to attend their loved one’s funeral, with some councils prohibiting any attendees at crematoriums and gravesides.

When asked about the most important way to say goodbye, 42 per cent of UK adults chose being present when their loved one passes away, whilst 33 per cent chose attending a funeral or memorial service.

Sadly, in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19, neither of these goodbyes have been an option for an estimated 243,000 bereaved families.

Director of Funerals at Co-op Funeralcare, David Collingwood, said: “A funeral provides a sense of closure for bereaved families and is very often the start of the grieving process.

"Sadly, the recent restrictions mean an estimated 243,000 bereaved families across the UK and thousands across Aberdeenshire have been denied the right to say goodbye to loved ones in the way they would have wished.

“We completely supported the need to introduce these restrictions at the beginning of the devasting Coronavirus pandemic in the UK.

"We had to make some tough but responsible decisions to protect our colleagues and clients, and to fulfil our social responsibility of slowing the spread of the disease.

“Tragically, we don’t yet know what the long-term psychological effects will be for families denied the last opportunity to say goodbye, so it is vital that we do everything possible to allow families and individuals to attend funerals, whilst always prioritising the health and safety of our communities.”

The Co-op Foundation has partnered with Co-op Funeralcare to deliver grants of up to £10,000 for projects that help young people to support each other through bereavement.

In Co-op Funeralcare's Biggest Ever Survey in 2018, 81 per cent of respondents said they hadn’t saved anything towards their funeral, and 8 per cent admitted to experiencing financial hardship due to paying for the funeral of a loved one.

The fund which was launched in April as part of the Co-op Members Coronavirus Fund has allowed Co-op’s 4.6 million members to donate their unspent existing member rewards.

The Hardship Fund provides a grant of £250 to anyone who is in financial hardship and arranging a funeral for a loved one who died as a result of coronavirus, or a coronavirus related illness.

Cruse Bereavement Care Clinical Director, Andy Langford said: “The coronavirus pandemic has meant it is an incredibly distressing time to be grieving, whenever your bereavement occurred.

" Many people have been grieving in isolation, unable to attend funerals, say goodbye, and be close to those they love.

"When you feel you have no control over how you can experience those last moments with someone, this can have a profound impact on the grieving process.”

Whilst grief itself is not a mental health problem, it can cause mental health problems.

Co-op is working with its partners Mind, SAMH and Inspire to encourage those affected by grief to access support from bereavement charities before their mental health deteriorates.

Stephen Buckley, Head of Information at Mind said: “The loss of a loved one during the pandemic is leaving many people struggling with grief.

"In most cases, grief is not a diagnosable mental health problem.

"It is absolutely normal that grief places strain on our everyday lives and it can take a long time to adapt to life after a loss."

For more information, please visit: https://www.coop.co.uk/funeralcare/nationinmourning


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