KYW Medical Report: Mental health must be prioritized for families robbed of closure

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Losing a life partner, parent or child is hard enough, but imagine having to say goodbye via a smartphone — or not getting that chance at all.

Doctors and nurses found themselves in the gut-wrenching position of serving as stand-ins for family members, providing emotional support and compassion again and again on patients’ deathbeds.

Those who lost loved ones were robbed of a critical part of the grieving process, and many have never had true closure.

Now, many are observing or approaching the one-year anniversary of the death of a loved one. With every new day this spring, hearts are ripped wide open, even as we celebrate vaccine distribution.

This is a critical time when mental health support services are in greater need than they have been in decades. At a time where it appears there are numerous social issues, this needs to be moved to the top.

KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.

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