Sharing the Difficult News

Sharing the news with family and friends that someone has died is a difficult and emotional task, but it’s important to approach the situation with care and sensitivity. Here are some steps to approach this conversation:

1. Prepare yourself: Take a moment to gather your thoughts and emotions before breaking the news. It can be helpful to rehearse what you want to say beforehand. Although sharing it might trigger your own grief, telling them can become a source of comfort, as you are reminded of how many people loved the person as you did.
   
   Remember, the more people you share the news with, the larger support group you’ll have.
   
   
2. Choose the right time and place: Find a time and place where you can have a private and uninterrupted conversation. When a meeting doesn’t work for your inner circle of friends and family, the next best option is a phone call. Try to stay away from emails or texts (or just assuming they’ll find out on social media). For your larger community, an email or social post can be an effective way to inform them of their loss.
   
   
3. Be direct and honest: It’s important to be clear and concise when sharing the news. Use simple language. Say something like, “I have some sad news to share. _______ has passed away.” You don’t need to put on a happy or fake face, be kind to yourself as you navigate this difficult task.
   
   
4. Don’t accept help: Offers of help, finances and support may be overwhelming – it’s okay to say, “thank you, I’ll let you know when I need something. Right now I am just recognizing and adjusting to this new reality.”
   
   If you do have several practical needs, have a friend be the go-to person for making these arrangements, taking care of children or pets, or providing meals for you. You shouldn’t need to organized your own life while you grieve your loved ones.
   
   
5. Find Grief Support: Help Texts offers incredible, expert-based text for your specific scenario. Sign up and get weekly/monthly texts to your phone to help you process, understand and navigate your grief with help.
   

Remember, delivering news of a loved one’s passing is never easy, we’re here to help you and your loved ones navigate this difficult time.