Grief & Bereavement Resources

What are Grief, Mourning, and Bereavement?

Grief, it is said, is the reaction to loss. The loss can be anything: a job, a divorce, a friendship, or the death of a loved one. Grief is the internal expression of loss, the emotions you feel inside. Mourning is the outward expression of those internal feelings. It is commonly expressed by sadness and tears but can take many forms. Bereavement is grief and mourning related explicitly to the death of someone close to us. It is a struggle to find the meaning of our loss. It is often accompanied by sadness and loneliness. It may be experienced as a mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual reaction to this struggle. We all grieve; it is as close to a human universal as we can find in our society. Although we all grieve, we do so in our way. Universally, we all benefit from the support of family, friends, clergy, and sometimes professional counseling. Following is a list of professional resources available in St. Tammany Parish to help you navigate your feelings of grief as they relate to the loss of your loved one. The list is comprehensive but by no means complete. We urge you to explore all resources to find the best fit for you and your family in this difficult time.