Helping Someone Who is Grieving

What You Can Do To Help

• Encourage expression of thoughts and feelings by trying “Do you feel like talking?” “I don’t know what to say, but I care.” “Please don’t worry if you cry in front of me.”
  
  
• Help create rituals
  
  
• Help recall good times
  
  
• Help put regrets into perspective
  
  
• Urge person to look to their faith community and/or a grief professional
  
  
• Encourage person to consider a support group
  
  
• Plan for difficult times/dates (anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, mealtimes)
  
  
• Help clean out loved one’s things and use time to reminisce
  
  
• Suggest writing a letter to the loved one, or keeping a journal
  
  
• Don’t be afraid to have a good time or to laugh
  
  
• Share favorite quotations, words of encouragement
  
  
• Encourage person to take care of their health
  
  
• Help shop, cook, write thank you notes
  
  
• Be patient. Grief takes time. Avoid saying things like “you should be getting on with your life.”
  
  
• Just sit