Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

Grief Leadership During COVID-19
The coronavirus (COVID-19)
attend to many responsibilities, including
Understanding people’s reactions
pandemic has put in perspective
effective communication to those in their
the need for leaders to prepare forcommunities who have questions, seek
to the losses associated with tragic
disruption of work routines, anxiety
reassurance, want to take action, or justevents informs the roles
within their communities andwant to know they are not alone in theirthat leaders can play inorganizations, and even death ofgrief.
community members, friends, andAs distress and anxiety turn to sorrow
support of recovery.
team members. Understanding people’sand mourning, leaders are responsible
reactions to the losses associated withfor identifying when communities are
tragic events informs the roles that leaders can play inready for the next step forward. Leaders know how best to
support of recovery. In the aftermath of traumatic events
speak the language of each community to help individuals,
many people want to hear guidance from their community
families, and care providers.
or organization leaders. During pandemics, leaders must
Communicate Effectively and Openly
Communicating effectively in crisis situations requires
an understanding of very special concepts, principles, andpractices. Leaders are encouraged to learn these approaches
or have access to crisis communication specialists. Worryand distress can spread within communities affected bytrauma, resulting in rumors and distortion of the event.
Human loss can amplify these effects. Formal and informal
leaders can be role models in sharing grief, communicating
hope, managing rumors, and providing support to others.
Immediate Responses
Be visible — Make public announcements andappearances 				Typical methods to promote visibility may not apply
during pandemics. Novel and creative ways to use
electronic and social media will be required. By providing
useful and accurate information, leaders can re-establish
a sense of safety and enhance the community’s trust in
leadership.
Provide accurate, timely information on what is known,
what is not known, and when more information will be
communicatedPress briefings, use of social media, and other vehicles
can reassure individuals, families, and communities, andhelp dispel rumors. Be a credible source of information,
direct people to other credible sources, and inform themwhen new information and resources become available.

Understand that people process information differently inhigh stress situations
When stressed, people have difficulty recalling morethan a few main points and tend to focus on negative
information. So keep messages simple, repeat frequently,and emphasize positive messaging.
Use multiple channels of communication
People seek information from multiple sources
depending on age, culture, ethnicity, geography, community
composition, and history. TV, newspapers, radio, religious
leaders, teachers, and firefighters provide diverse channels
for communication. Remember that in-person channels
will be sharply curtailed during a pandemic so remotecommunication avenues are critical.
Speak calmly and encourage working together
Leaders promote calmness, empathy, optimism, a cando attitude, and mutual support. By modeling the desired
behavior and tone, leaders help others learn.
Communicate the status of existing and available
resources
Monitor emerging needs, support fellow community
leaders, and communicate resource availability andrequirements. During and following a pandemic, available
resources will change frequently and will require frequent
updates. Guiding people to resources can instill confidence
and credibility.

Continued

Organize memorial services and sites recognizing thediversity within the community
Respect the desires and needs of families who havesustained losses. During a pandemic, communicate
clearly any changes to traditional funeral services, andacknowledge the hardship this places on families andcommunities. Shared rituals are important to promoting
community cohesiveness and acknowledging shared loss.
Pandemics require creative approaches.
Acknowledge grief
Tears and grieving in public by leaders give permission
to others to express grief and humanizes unthinkabletragedies. Be aware that public displays of emotion may bevariably accepted among cultures.
Recovery
Focus on future goals
Reorient the community to a future where disease isunder control and life returns to normal. Be realistic about
how long this takes, that the process is not linear, and thatsome things may never return to the way they were. Strong
leaders need to adequately manage expectations.
Acknowledge those from within and outside thecommunity who want to and do help
Establish a climate of healing and community support.
Providing and receiving help can be difficult, therefore, it isimportant to promote the value of both.
Provide alternatives to blaming
Blame directed towards groups or individuals
increases feelings of anger and the desire for retribution.
Acknowledge feelings of anger, but redirect energy toproviding support, solving problems, and moving forward.
Growing
Encourage a “new normal”
Work to return community activities to normal, butmodel tolerance and patience if recovery is slow. Setand acknowledge achievable goals. Help the community
understand the changing trajectory of recovery.
Promote cohesion
Expect community disappointment and anger after the
initial sense of togetherness. Be alert to fault lines such as
racial or socioeconomic differences within a community.
These tend to expand and become areas for conflict. Avoid
divisive language - identifying a “we and they”. Community
rituals provide an opportunity for individuals and families
to heal and reflect on their shared experience in their own
style. These can cross racial, cultural, and socioeconomic
divides.
Engage your own support
Take care of yourself. You need supporting staff, friends,
and family who remind you to rest and can objectively
advise you about personal needs you might overlook orneglect. Keep your advisors informed and listen to theirperspectives.
Resources
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stresswww.cstsonline.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
www.nctsn.org
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
www.aacap.org
American Academy of Pediatrics
www.aap.org
American Psychiatric Associationwww.psych.org
American Psychological Associationwww.apa.org
American Red Cross
www.redcross.org

Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Department of Psychiatry
Uniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
www.CSTSonline.org