Many factors can influence how we experience and express grief - including our culture, age, community, family beliefs and traditions, past experiences, and the circumstances or cause of the loss, to name just a few.
Bereavement is the deep sense of loss experienced after the death of someone close. It can last for many years and is often overlooked, minimised, or insufficiently supported.
Mourning is the outward, often collective expression of grief. The word itself stems from a Greek root meaning “to cut,” reflecting the deep rupture caused by loss. As an action, mourning includes the steps we take to move through grief - such as attending a funeral, speaking about our loss, crying, or being seen and heard in our sorrow. It is the visible expression of the pain we carry inside.
Grief, bereavement, and mourning are universal human experiences that touch us all in time. Often, our understanding of how to express and navigate these states is shaped by the support of those around us. Across the world, different cultures and traditions express these experiences in varied and meaningful ways. In many Western societies, however, there is a tendency to minimise or suppress visible expressions of grief and mourning.
RESOURCES
There are many valuable sources of support we can turn to - often beginning with our own families, friends, and communities. Additional support may come from a counsellor, a compassionate listener, or the services offered by organisations dedicated to grief and bereavement. A selection of these resources is listed below.
“An education and learning workshop for community members…encouraging and promoting a compassionate response to loss based on the best evidence”, run by the Death Literacy Institute.
Australian Resources
International Resources
More Resources