“The system doesn’t really cater for the trauma that Black people have experienced”–Experiences of grief and bereavement in Black British and Black Caribbean heritage communities in England: A qualitative study

Abstract

People from Black and other minoritized ethnic communities are known to experience health and social care inequities, including barriers to accessing bereavement support. However, bereavement experiences and support needs in different population groups are poorly understood. This qualitative, co-produced study aimed to explore experiences of grief and bereavement among people of Black British and Black Caribbean heritage in England. Through community conversations and interviews with 35 participants, the study illuminates how structural inequities, cultural norms, and systemic racism intersect to shape grief experiences. Participants highlighted the importance of extended family and community in grief, which often clashed with the individualistic norms of white British society. Cultural customs that discouraged emotional expression made grieving harder, while rituals like Nine-Night and storytelling provided crucial communal support. Findings inform evidence-based recommendations for systemic reforms and community-level action to help improve experiences among Black British and Black Caribbean bereaved people in England.