Invisible deaths: from nursing homes to prisons, the coronavirus toll is out of sight – and out of mind?
Behind every statistic is an actual human who lived, loved, and was loved. Right now we’re inundated with coronavirus statistics. We see the numbers of those who have gotten sick and those who have died. Because of privacy laws and the very real dangers of contracting the virus, we don’t see beyond the staggering numbers, which makes it difficult to comprehend the reality behind the statistics.
In this articles from The Guardian, chief reporter Ed Pilkington examines the impact of the invisibility of the human cost of the pandemic.
“We hear and talk about death all the time but we are not seeing anything,” said Megan Devine, a psychotherapist and grief educator in Portland, Oregon. “We know the statistics but are we letting that number, the weight of all that lost humanity, in?”
In the absence of the physical rituals associated with grieving, Devine said, even loved ones who succumb become invisible. “You can’t be at their bedside when they are dying, you can’t go to their funeral or viewing. They just vanish. That deepens the unreality of death.”
Read the entire article at The Guardian.
We hear and talk about death all the time but we are not seeing anything,” said Megan Devine.“We know the statistics but are we letting that number, the weight of all that lost humanity, in? Click To TweetHow about you? How has the invisible nature of the pandemic had an effect on you?
Now, as always, the very best place I know to connect YOU with other grieving folks is inside the Writing Your Grief community. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, there is always someone there: when you feel invisible inside your grief, these folks see you. When your friends have their own sh*t to deal with and you can’t lean on them, your WYG family is there. I mean it folks, this community is unlike any other place – online or IRL. The June session is open now and we’ve got room for you. Follow this link to join us, and pass it on.
