This was especially true for the growing number of people who lost people in those early days. Official terminology termed deaths around this time as “due to COVID-19” or “due to Influenza and Pneumonia”, but even those were applied with a blanket motion. Needless to say, for those families and friends who had people snatched from their life they were left largely in the dark, at a time where they should have been able to work through grieving and mourning that loss. Unfortunately, most are still angry and set up their own support groups like ‘Covid 19 Families for Justice‘, ‘Names Not Numbers‘ and many many more who are fighting to be heard.
Yes, it was a shock but we are a resilient nation and on the back of the plans drawn up from previous outbreaks like Foot-and-mouth, influenza A(H1N1) virus, bird-flu, Spanish flu (H1N1) and SARS we should have done better. Better for the people who were most at risk and better for the people who caught the virus before and in the first wave.
Most importantly, we missed learning the lessons of previous pandemics, which showed that stigma and fear impacted containment, spread and control, apart from their impacts on human suffering which delay detection and treatment efforts. We missed, or miss calculated how an event like this would change peoples behaviour and attitude, not only to key figures and leaders but on each other, discriminating groups, religious and even other countries.
As vaccines are rolled out and positive action is being taken on the virus, we need to facilitate a strong community mental health program and ensure funding and resource is migrated to benefit the wellness of the nation as part of the total recovery.
We should remember those who have passed but we should make every effort to support those who will be the most greatly affected by the devastation. Being there for the wellbeing of those who will need that psychologic help but also those who will struggle from the economic fallout which will mean continued job losses, grief counselling, housing and shelter issues and food shortages, not only for the now but for many years to come.
It is my humble option that for the most we have come together, we have followed guidelines, we have stayed at home and kept our distance, but as time goes on and the number of deaths continues to rise, beating records on a daily basis, what is next and when will it end?
The fact that this week marked the tragic milestone of exceeding 100,000 deaths in the United Kingdom it should have been treated with more compassion. We should have symbolised not only those deaths but we should have celebrated those who have come together, to fight the virus directly with the vaccines, administrated the immunisations, getting the country ticking while this invisible killer is still running amuck. Boris Johnson should have taken the opportunity to hear people concerns, listen to the nation and respond with silence.
Whatever the circumstances you have found yourself in now, however, you dealt with the lockdowns and the pandemic it is important to know you are not alone, you have never been alone, there is so much support if you were to look or ask and we are partnering with Marie Curie to make sure that our nation knows that we are here for each other.
Details to follow but on the 23rd March 2021, we want to bring a national program together that will help people remember the past 12 months, to celebrate all those people who have remained largely unsung heroes and offer you a moment to stop, to reflect, to listen to each other and hopefully move forward together to a more positive future.
You can learn more about the Forest Plans here. Please give your support to this project, follow us, and spread the word so we can ensure the forest is a shared symbol of remembrance, support for those in need, and of national recovery.
Completing this information is the next step in the process to plant your tree you dedicated for your loved one in the Forest of Memories.
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