Diversity of grief and mourning: Considering intersectionality when coping with loss

We all experience grief at some point in our lives, shaping us into different versions of ourselves and affecting how we return to daily activities. Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) treat individuals who experience grief, which is defined as the acute emotional pain after a loss. Mourning, typically associated with grief and defined as the culturally accepted expression of loss, can also affect how we return to functioning and community participation. Although grief and mourning are commonly associated with the death of someone, other reasons can lead to emotional pain, including the loss of: