The Grief Support Gap in America
Research report
The Grief Support Gap in America
A study on America's hidden crisis of isolation, grief, and unrecognized loss. Developed by Reimagine in partnership with HarrisX.
Executive summary
The Support Gap
Although the vast majority of adults experience significant grief, loss, or hardship, nearly half go through these experiences with little or no meaningful support.
The reality
Nearly eight in ten U.S. adults are currently navigating loss or hardship. Grief stems not only from death loss, but from many other painful experiences, as well.
The negative consequences extend far beyond emotional pain, with harmful effects on physical health, relationships, and civic connection.
The barriers
Grief experiences are marked by a profound lack of understanding and support. People don't know how to show up.
80% of Americans have experienced barriers to supporting someone they know. The most commonly reported are worrying about saying the wrong thing and not knowing what to say.
The way forward
We must shift public health models to recognize and respond to a broader spectrum of loss.
These findings point to the need for frameworks that strengthen how people and communities support one another while helping channel grief away from harm and toward healing, meaning, purpose, and growth.
By illuminating the forces behind this support gap, and the barriers that keep Americans from showing up for one another, we hope these findings can help build a more compassionate, proactive, and resilient culture of healing and connection.
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