Grief felt for the loss of a loved one, the loss of a treasured possession, or a loss associated with an important life change, occurs across all ages and cultures. However, the role that cultural heritage plays in an individual’s experience of grief and mourning is not well understood. Attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding death must be described according to myths and mysteries surrounding death within different cultures.

Individual, personal experiences of grief are similar in different cultures. This is true even though different cultures have different mourning ceremonies, traditions, and behaviors to express grief. Helping families cope with the death of a loved one includes showing respect for the family’s cultural heritage and encouraging them to decide how to honor the death. Important questions that should be asked of people who are dealing with the loss of a loved one include:

• What are the cultural rituals for coping with dying, the deceased person’s body, the final arrangements for the body, and honoring the death?
• What are the family’s beliefs about what happens after death?
• What does the family feel is a normal expression of grief and the acceptance of the loss?
• What does the family consider to be the roles of each family member in handling the death?
• Are certain types of death less acceptable (for example, suicide), or are certain types of death especially hard to handle for that culture (for example, the death of a child)?

Death, grief, and mourning spare no one and are normal life events. All cultures have developed ways to cope with death. Interfering with these practices may interfere with the necessary grieving processes. Understanding different cultures’ response to death can help physicians recognize the grieving process in patients of other cultures.

Glossary Terms

To adjust to new situations and overcome problems.

The beliefs, values, and behaviors that are shared within a group, such as a religious group or a nation. Culture includes language, customs, and beliefs about roles and relationships.

Dead.

The normal response to a major loss, such as the death of a loved one. Grief may also be felt by a person with a serious, long-term illness or with a terminal illness. It may include feelings of great sadness, anger, guilt, and despair. Physical problems, such as not being able to sleep and changes in appetite, may also be part of grief.

Medical doctor.

In medicine, a repeated action (such as hand washing) done to relieve feelings of fear, dread, and uneasiness. This is often seen in people who have an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The act of taking one's own life on purpose.