Grief and Bereavement Support

Many factors influence how we mourn, including our relationship with the person who died, the circumstances of the person's death and our experience of previous losses. Our culture and spiritual beliefs as well as changing living or financial conditions also impact how we cope.

Grief

Grief is what we think and feel on the inside after someone we love dies. Experiencing a loss affects the whole self — body, mind and spirit. So, you may experience a variety of emotions, and many people have physical symptoms. Grief is a journey that can be messy and is not as orderly and predictable as you might have been told. Even if a loss was years ago, you can continue to experience pain and sadness. 

Mourning

Mourning is the outward expression of grief, how we share our feelings with others. Mourning can help you work through pain and loss, moving toward hope and healing. Sharing your story or crying with others, creating meaningful funerals and rituals can help you connect with your community. Writing in a journal, playing music, and looking through pictures and can help you connect with yourself. What works for a friend or family member, however, may not work for you. Unfortunately, we often compare our grief to others and end up feeling more alone.

How We Can Help

At Atlantic Health System, we have services and programs to support you and your family on your unique journey through grief. We are glad you have found us and hope you will reach out and explore available resources, or just call to chat and share your story. Our experienced, knowledgeable and caring team can help you navigate all the resources and find the right fit for you. We can connect you with grief support groups, specialized programs for children, counselors and resources that are specific to your experience, such as perinatal loss, suicide or COVID-19.