Helping the bereaved
Emma Pinn
The death of friends and loved ones is difficult for all of us no matter what our age or circumstance. It can also be difficult to know how to help our friends when they lose a loved one - what to say or do that will comfort them. Often other people's pain can make us feel helpless.
If you know someone who has recently lost a loved one, try to avoid platitudes such as, "I know how you feel because I lost.....", or "They're in a better place now", or even "You're doing really well." Often this last comment is made because the bereaved person isn't showing a lot of emotion, but that doesn't mean that they aren't hurting immensely.
If you don't know what to say, perhaps the best thing to do is just to gently admit this. The bereaved person might then tell you, or let you know what would help.
It's important to remember that grief doesn't end after a set period - that for many people, the grief can become harder to bear months after a loss. So try not to assume everything is better even if it's several months or more since the death, and continue to offer your genuine support.