Bereavement, grief, and mourning are related concepts often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings:

1. Bereavement: This is the period of mourning and adjustment after the loss of a loved one. It refers to the entire process or experience of losing someone close and encompasses both the emotional and life changes that occur.

2. Grief: Grief is the emotional response to the loss. It includes feelings such as sadness, anger, guilt, and despair. Grief is a natural and personal process and may vary greatly from person to person.

3. Mourning: Mourning is the external expression of grief. It involves the customs, rituals, and behaviors that a culture or society prescribes for dealing with loss, such as funerals or wearing black clothing. Mourning practices are influenced by cultural, religious, and personal beliefs.

Understanding these distinctions can help in recognizing the various ways people cope with loss and the diverse processes involved in dealing with bereavement.

To answer your question about the difference between bereavement, grief, and mourning, let me provide some insights based on reliable sources:

Bereavement: Bereavement refers to the state of having lost someone or something important through death. It's the objective situation of having experienced a loss. According to the American Psychological Association, "Bereavement is the period after a loss during which grief and mourning occur."

Source: https://dictionary.apa.org/bereavement

Grief: Grief is the internal, emotional response to loss. It's the complex set of feelings and reactions that occur when someone experiences a significant loss. Grief can include a wide range of emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, and even relief. It's a deeply personal experience that can vary greatly from person to person.

The Center for Loss and Life Transition describes grief as "the internal thoughts and feelings we experience when someone we love dies."

Source: https://www.centerforloss.com/grief/

Mourning: Mourning, on the other hand, is the outward expression of grief. It involves the actions and behaviors that people engage in to express their grief publicly. Mourning can be influenced by cultural, religious, and social norms. Examples of mourning include wearing black clothes, participating in funeral rituals, or creating memorials.

The American Cancer Society states, "Mourning is the outward expression of grief, the public expression of grief. Mourning includes religious beliefs and practices, as well as cultural customs."

Source: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/end-of-life-care/grief-and-loss/mourning.html

To summarize the differences:

1. Bereavement is the state of loss.
2. Grief is the internal, emotional response to loss.
3. Mourning is the external, social expression of grief.

It's important to note that while these terms are distinct, they are closely interrelated in the process of dealing with loss. A person who is bereaved will likely experience grief and may engage in mourning behaviors, but the exact nature and expression of these experiences can vary widely between individuals and cultures.

The difference between bereavement, grief, and mourning can be summarized as follows:

1. Bereavement: This refers to the state of having lost someone or something significant. It is the objective fact of loss and the period during which grief and mourning occur. The duration of bereavement can vary depending on the individual and their relationship with the deceased. Source

2. Grief: Grief is the internal emotional response to loss. It encompasses a range of feelings, not just sadness, but also anger, guilt, and yearning. Grief is a personal and individual experience that can last for an extended period, even up to 10 years in some cases. Source

3. Mourning: Mourning is the outward expression of grief. It involves the behaviors, rituals, and actions through which a person expresses their grief. This can include funerals, memorial services, and other social practices that help individuals and communities process and acknowledge the loss. Source

In essence, bereavement is the state of loss, grief is the emotional response to that loss, and mourning is the social expression of grief. Each component plays a role in the process of coping with and healing from loss. Here is an image that visually differentiates between grief and mourning: