Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated risks for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) due to traumatic deaths and disrupted mourning practices. This study examines the role of social work in mitigating PGD through pre- and post-death interventions and proposes scalable solutions for equitable bereavement care. Social workers are critical in addressing pandemic-related grief, yet global disparities in bereavement care persist. Policy reforms must prioritize workforce training, digital mental health infrastructure, and inclusive mourning practices to prevent a “shadow pandemic” of PGD.
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