Bill Overview
Title: GRIEF Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to support activities to address grief and loss, with a particular focus on grief and loss related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific activities required include (1) a public education campaign on understanding grief and loss; (2) grants for training providers on bereavement care and providing such care to individuals affected by COVID-19 and related deaths; and (3) research on complicated and prolonged grief, including interventions for its prevention and treatment.
Sponsors: Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
Target Audience
Population: people affected by grief and loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Estimated Size: 15000000
- The bill focuses on addressing grief and loss, specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It targets individuals who have experienced grief and loss due to COVID-19, which affected millions globally.
- The bill includes provisions for public education, training of providers, and research, indicating a focus on both direct sufferers and those in supportive roles.
- Globally, COVID-19 has resulted in over 6 million deaths, impacting families and communities who have lost loved ones and are experiencing grief.
- The bill extends to complicated and prolonged grief, which is a condition a significant subset of mourners may experience.
Reasoning
- The GRIEF Act focuses on individuals and families who have been significantly impacted by the grief and loss originating from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially where deaths have occurred.
- The policy also includes a broader public education campaign and support for health care providers, hence indirectly impacting a larger audience.
- With a budget of $250 million in the first year, the program can support significant activities but will not reach everyone deeply affected.
- Given that about 15 million Americans are estimated to be significantly affected by COVID-19 related losses, the policy aims to alleviate grief among this subset but will do so variably depending on personal, social, and economic circumstances.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the GRIEF Act would help nurses like me who constantly encounter grief at work and were personally affected too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's beneficial for educators to understand grief better, as many students have lost family members.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could be a lifeline for people struggling to find accessible grief services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Social Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The additional resources for mental health education could greatly improve community support efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Small Business Owner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While helpful, the policy may not directly reach small business owners dealing with grief indirectly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could provide crucial support to young people juggling studies and grief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Boston, MA)
Age: 75 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is essential for older adults experiencing compounded grief due to isolation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Therapist (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The GRIEF Act provides needed recognition and support for mental health professionals addressing grief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 9 |
Tech Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Tech workers like me can help spread awareness online about resources made available through this Act.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Factory Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy means more direct support for people who are still struggling to make ends meet after losing family members.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 3: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 5: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Accurate measurement of the actual number of individuals benefiting from the interventions is crucial.
- Monitoring the effectiveness of public education campaigns in changing public perceptions towards grief and loss.
- Ensuring that the allocated research funding results in substantial contributions to the understanding and treatment of complicated grief.
- Managing the allocation and performance of grants to ensure equitable geographic and demographic distribution.