Bereavement happens to us all. Grieving is an individual and unique process, but research and theory provide information about risk, grieving and effective help. Some useful definitions of key concepts include:

• Bereavement – understood to refer to the objective situation of having lost someone significant
  
• Grief – the reaction to bereavement, defined as a primary emotional (affective) reaction to the loss of a loved one through death
  
• Mourning – the social expressions or acts expressive of grief that are shaped by the practices of a given society or social group

Mourning is largely determined by culture. The bereaved often obtain the most help from talking to family and friends. Those with complicated grief require more help. All can benefit from information about grieving.