With the death toll on the rise among international communities, citizens of America may be forced to adapt to new practices of mourning. Currently, funeral homes in the United States are limiting the number of attendees at funerals and are offering online funeral services. This is far from usual as no one would have imagined these practices to go into effect. Even more so, it is not ideal for someone mourning the loss of a loved one. Experts in grief psychology suggest that funeral practices are necessary for the grieving process in which they help reconcile the loss, remember the dead, and sympathize with others.

Without the usual rituals, and in social isolation, how does a person cope properly when grieving? This is an important issue as everything around you has changed due to the pandemic. However, grief and coping with trauma have been studied extensively, and some principles of coping with trauma can still be applied to the process. According to psychologists, there are three types of coping mechanisms that people can still practice.

1. Try to address the problem head-on: Problem-focused strategies are aimed at fixing or addressing the problem. Delaying funerals and live-streaming funeral services are two examples of solving a problem head-on, and as more funeral homes have trouble helping families grieve the loss of individuals, more solutions will likely be offered soon. Additionally, those coping with death might adapt to other rituals associated with mourning, including writing an obituary, interacting with loved ones through virtual chat, and making plans for delayed service.
2. Instead of focusing only on the negative aspects of the situation, reappraisal involves focusing on the positive aspects of the situation. With coping with grief during COVID, the silver lining might be hard to find, especially when people are not able to say goodbye to loved ones using their own cultural practices. However, one can find comfort in social support and reappraise during this difficult time. People might also rely upon their religion or spiritual beliefs during these times, which may help them mourn.
3. Reorganization consists of several steps, including acknowledging the loss and processing the experience so you can adapt to the new reality. Even without having to cope with death, this is a stressful and confusing time. Everyone, especially those coping with death, should give themselves time to mentally reorganize and acknowledge the complexity of the situation.

In sum, this is an unprecedented time, and the mourning process will likely be very different than what is normal in our recent history. However, this should not prevent us from feeling grief and mourning properly. Now more than ever, it is essential for people to empathize with those who have lost someone. Listen to each other and be present for someone who is grieving. Connect with family members, friends, and support systems during this time of social isolation.