Grief can be a difficult subject to discuss, as many people struggle to find the right words when they are trying to offer support to someone who is bereaved or going through loss, as they worry about saying the “wrong thing”.
Below are some suggestions for how you can support someone experiencing grief or loss:
- Listen – give the person your full time and attention to really listen to them talking. Don’t worry if you don’t know what to say, as often the person grieving just needs someone to open up to.
- Acknowledge the loss, no matter what it is – the loss of a loved one, a pet, a job, a house, a relationship – the pain is still real for the person experiencing it.
- Keep in contact and think about how best to do this, whether it’s through face-to-face visits, phone calls, text messages, or social media.
- Avoid making assumptions about how your loved one is feeling or what they need or want, by asking questions. This will also show that your care and you can give the best support that your loved one needs.
- Offering practical help and support can be just as important – you can offer to do their washing, walk their dog, do their food shopping, do some cleaning in the house, go for a walk together, or you could cook some meals.