The grief experienced collectively — after a national tragedy, after the death of a beloved public figure, after a community loss — is real grief, not merely performative, though it has features that distinguish it from personal loss. It creates unusual opportunities for shared mourning and solidarity, and when mishandled by leaders or institutions, it can leave communities fractured. This domain examines collective grief, what it needs, and what its particular character reveals about how humans mourn together.
Each step builds on the last.