| Carry or need | Quick ideas |
|---|---|
| Name | Say their name. Share a memory. Mark their birthday. |
| Story | Listen again. Do not fix, compare, or rush. |
| Load | Make a specific offer: what, when, and an easy no. |
| Quiet | Sit, walk, or be together without needing to talk. |
| Calendar | Put hard dates in your calendar. Check in at month four, month nine, year three. |
| Open Door | Keep inviting, gently. Offer easy entry. Welcome them back simply. |
| Thoughts of suicide or emotional crisis (US) | Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Veterans: dial 988 then press 1. |
| Immediate danger | Call 911. |
| Treatment referral and information (US) | SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357. |
| Outside the United States | Your local emergency number and national crisis line. |
Resources
In the United StatesCall 988Text 988Emergency: 911
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Chat at 988lifeline.org. Veterans: dial 988 then press 1. Outside the US, use your local emergency number or crisis line.
GGN Educator Directory
Looking for a GGN educator to teach or facilitate this program for your family, faith community, workplace, or volunteer team? Browse the GGN Educator Directory. For practitioners who offer grief support services, see the GGN Practitioner Directory.
Open the Educator DirectoryQuick Reference: The Six Carries and Where to Get Help
Sources and Further Reading
Ways We Carry Love, the six Carries, and all practices in this program are original to the Global Grief Network. The following sources are referenced by name.
- Further reading: Klass, D., Silverman, P. R., and Nickman, S. L. (Eds.). Continuing Bonds: New Understandings of Grief. Taylor and Francis, 1996.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org).
- SAMHSA National Helpline (samhsa.gov), 1-800-662-4357.