Why is Grief A Lonely Experience? An Exploration of the Systems That Create Isolation in Grief

Grief is often framed as a solitary emotional experience, yet its course is decisively charted by larger, systemic forces. In this compelling presentation, Dr. Elreacy Dock will examine the often-invisible social, cultural, economic, and political factors that influence how we experience and process loss. Grounding the discussion in the conceptual framework of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), this session will methodically analyze how societal structures create vastly different landscapes for grief and mourning. We will deconstruct how these systems can either validate and support grief or marginalize and complicate it.