Coronavirus Pandemic a Factor in Delayed Mourning in Survivors: A Letter to The Editor

Abstract

he coronavirus newness and its high rate of spread have feared most people, a fear that in many cases causes social and psychological problems. Common psychological reactions include COVID phobia, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder-just some of the associated problems related to coronavirus. Other problems caused by the disease include home quarantine, disruption of daily activities, obsession with cleanliness and washing, abnormal mourning for the death of loved ones, death of people, lack of equipped hospitals, difficulty in performing hospital duties, the fatigue of medical staff, illness and shortages in medical staff, hypersensitivity in some occupations due to disease control and treatment, economic problems of the community, closure of schools, universities, and offices, rumors in cyberspace and society [3]. Coronavirus has spread to many countries around the world and has claimed many lives. As of today, April 28, 2020, reports from the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education show that 92584 people have been infected in Iran, of whom, 5877 have died. According to the report, the number of people with coronavirus in the world is 3106000, of whom, more than 200000 have died. Unfortunately, the virus is not the only cause of death. Another important issue is the family of these people, who are not allowed to mourn, vent their emotions, and express grief.

Lived Experiences and Challenges of the Families of COVID-19 Victims: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study in Tehran, Iran

“…The psychological and emotional state of the family members is already engaged and fatigued, and with the extra emotional load of a loved one’s death, tension and instability grow, making dealing with the other issues more difficult. 16 , 17 For ages, Iranian culture has been used to holding funerals for the dead. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the death of loved ones is more painful and difficult in Iran and other countries with comparable cultural conditions, because performing social rituals for the departed is culturally and traditionally essential.…”

Impact of public health education on undue fear of COVID‐19 among nurses: The mediating role of psychological capital

“…As of 27 October, more than 1 155 553 people have lost their lives and more than 43 147 494 people worldwide are victims of this pandemic (World Health Organization 2020). The widespread of COVID‐19 has threatened many human lives and built high fears in human, especially among healthcare workers (Javadi & Sajadian 2020). Therefore, exceptional and up‐to‐date health education is crucial for human survival in such stressful environment (Pisal et al .…”

“…As such, this present study proposes that health education is an integral factor to control and reduce fear among nurses. Some reasons that build fear in this context are as follows: getting affected by COVID‐19 (Javadi & Sajadian 2020), absence of an effective vaccine, poor medical treatment facilities (Dhama et al . 2020), and the rapid spread of COVID‐19 (Chinazzi et al .…”

Investigating People’s Anxieties and Concerns About COVID-19

“…Also, due to the fear of being infected with the Coronavirus, families avoid attending ceremonies such as funerals and mourning of loved ones, which leads to disorders such as mental health conditions and delayed grief [10,11].…”