Global Grief Network logoGGN Complex and Prolonged Grief
Global Grief Network Education Center
Module 5 of 6

Supporting Someone Through Heavy Grief

About 1 hour

If you or someone you know may be in danger right nowCall 988Text 988Immediate danger: call 911

988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the United States. It is free, confidential, and open 24/7 by call, text, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Veterans: dial 988 then press 1. Outside the US, use your local emergency number or crisis line. This program is education, not crisis care. If you are struggling as you read, please pause and reach out now.

Lessons in this module
  1. Steady presence
  2. Gentle encouragement
  3. Alongside professional care

Objectives

By the end of this module you will be able to:

Lesson

Steady presence

People in heavy grief often withdraw. Keep showing up in small, steady ways: a text, a short walk, a meal, sitting together quietly. Consistency matters more than finding perfect words.

Gentle encouragement

Invite small steps back into life, like a short outing or one routine, without pressure. Celebrate small wins. Avoid pushing someone to move on or to stop talking about the person who died.

Alongside professional care

If someone is seeing a licensed mental health professional, your support still matters. Ask how it is going if they want to share, respect privacy, and help with practical needs like transport. Your role complements theirs rather than replacing it.

GGN reminder: Small, steady care builds a bridge back to life, one plank at a time.
GGN practiceMy steady list (about 10 minutes)

List five small things you can offer someone who is grieving heavily, each taking less than thirty minutes. Pick one to do this week. If you are the one grieving, list five small things others could do that would help you. If this brings up pain, pause and reach out to someone you trust, or call or text 988.

Fictional storyFictional Story 5.1: Tuesdays

Marcus's friend Ade had stopped returning calls after his partner's death. Marcus started dropping by every Tuesday with coffee, even when Ade barely talked. Months later Ade said those Tuesdays were the only thing he looked forward to.

Questions to consider:

  1. Why did Marcus's approach help?
  2. How could Marcus encourage further support?

Discussion: Marcus offered consistent, low pressure presence. Over time he could gently ask whether Ade had thought about talking with a grief specialist, and offer to help him find one.

Reflection Prompts

  1. Who has shown steady presence to you in hard times?
  2. How do you balance encouragement with patience?
  3. How do you refill your own energy while supporting someone?

Module 5 Quiz

Choose one answer per question, then check your answers. You need 4 of 5 correct to pass, and every critical item must be correct. You can retake it any time.