Grieving support can take different forms.
- Social support is important for people who have just lost a loved one.
- Social support is important for people who have just lost a loved one.
- Grieving is a time when you can feel a sense of loneliness.
- It is important to support the person without minimizing or denying their pain.
Grieving can sometimes lead to isolation in one’s suffering. If of course these moments are necessary, losing a loved one also requires accompaniment through social support.
Break isolation with the presence of others
Grieving can be a very isolating time when you can feel alone and misunderstood. However, it is indeed the social support that will make it possible to overcome the pain of the loss and to envisage the future without the loved one.
This social support can take different forms, from friends, family, neighbours, co-workers, to bereavement support groups. By being there for the grieving person, listening carefully to their concerns, and offering them a shoulder to lean on, social support can help ease some of the pain and sadness.
Demonstrate attentive listening and understanding
There is nothing worse for a grieving person than to be questioned, denied or criticized for their suffering. On the contrary, accompanying a grieving loved one allows them to find a safe space to express their pain, sadness and anger while teaching them to cope with their loss and to move forward in their life.
Each grieving person has unique needs and reactions, it is important not only to respect these, but also to offer sincere emotional support and to be there for the person without minimizing or judging their pain.
Do not minimize or compare
To help your loved one in mourning, it is important to avoid giving unsolicited advice or judging their choices but on the contrary simply to listen to them, to be present and to respect where the person is. For example, you can offer help with daily tasks, such as shopping or preparing meals, or suggest that they go out for fresh air, do an activity that they enjoy, or simply watch a movie together. .
The grieving process is different for each person, and it is important to respect the pace of the grieving person. You can offer her regular support, without putting pressure on her to “get better” quickly.
Finally, if the grieving person needs professional help to get through this difficult period, you can offer them resources to find psychological support or a support group.
Find out more: “On grief and mourning” by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler.