The news of President Jimmy Carter’s passing on Sunday was both unexpected and anticipated. He entered hospice care nearly two years ago and reached the age of 100 in October, just in time to cast his vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the recent election.

One user on X expressed, “It’s difficult to think of another American who has contributed more to both the nation and humanity.” Another reflected on their sadness: “The loss of President Jimmy Carter deeply affects me. May he rest peacefully.”

The nation has been engrossed by this news, to the extent that many may feel a personal sense of loss. Whether he was president during your birth or that of your parents, or you know him through his initiatives like The Carter Center or Habitat for Humanity, his legacy resonates with many, evoking a sense of grief.

Grief manifests differently for each individual, and specialists assert that mourning a person you did not know personally – referred to as collective or public grief – is a complex but legitimate experience.

According to David Kessler, a grief expert and founder of Grief.com, “Collective and public grief is unique in how we form connections to those figures.”

This type of grief can be particularly intense when a beloved public personality passes away.

Licensed psychologist Shavonne Moore-Lobban previously described the feelings people have when facing sudden loss: “People may react with shock, disbelief, confusion, and even denial regarding the loss. The suddenness can be overwhelming and hard to accept initially.”

Understanding why we bond with public figures

As Moore-Lobban noted, “Sudden loss can be jarring, and individuals often feel less ‘equipped’ to cope compared to expected loss. Regardless, preparing for any significant change in life is challenging.”

Many people develop parasocial relationships with celebrities, politicians, or news figures, feeling a personal connection as if they are friends or family.

Just because public or collective grief may not resemble mourning for someone very close does not diminish its significance.

Kessler remarked, “It’s intriguing that people often don’t realize they can genuinely grieve individuals they never met. It doesn’t mean our grief will mirror that of a spouse or a parent; nonetheless, we still experience it.”

Supporting others in grief

If you’re helping someone who is grieving, avoid minimizing their feelings or imposing a timeline on how long they should grieve.

Moore-Lobban stated, “Grief has no expiration, and because it’s a cycle or process, it will last as long as necessary for the individual experiencing it.”

If you are grieving, it’s important to express your feelings. Moore-Lobban explained, “This may involve sharing your emotions honestly with someone trustworthy or seeking therapy—either individually or in a group. Journaling can also be a way to process your thoughts and feelings.”

The loss of public figures can be an opportunity to broaden conversations about grief.

Kessler noted, “Society has a complex relationship with death that we often struggle to address. I remind people that the death rate is 100%. While we all understand that we will die someday on an intellectual level, we grapple with whether death is an adversary or a source of comfort in times of pain. It’s an area we find challenging to navigate.”