30/08/2026
30th August is Grief Awareness Day.
Days like this are our chance to bang the drums a little louder than usual, get people talking, pique their interest, ask questions and hopefully - listen and learn.
So let’s give anyone watching on some lessons in loss!
What do you wish people understood a little bit more?
Maybe it’s your friends who stopped asking because they thought mentioning their name might upset you.
Maybe it’s family who think enough time has passed now and you need to get back to normal.
Maybe it’s work, where you’re doing your absolute best to function but your concentration, confidence or patience just isn’t what it was.
Or maybe it’s something completely different.
Nearly everyone we speak to and ask how bereavement has affected them, said they weren’t the same person they were before.
I wasn’t surprised by that.
I know I’m not the same person.
And I think this is a massive part of becoming more grief aware.
We need to stop expecting people to squeeze themselves back into the person they were before somebody they loved died.
Life has changed. Of course we might change with it.
And if the people around us understood that a little more, maybe we’d stop putting that same pressure on ourselves too.
Maybe we’d stop thinking, why aren’t I back to normal yet? What’s wrong with me?
And instead think, things have changed. I’m finding my way with them.
We’re a bit too black and white sometimes. Coping or not coping. Back at work or off sick. Doing well or struggling. Moving forward or stuck.
There’s an awful lot of grey in grief, each loss is individual to each person, which means we will all react completely differently, so we need to stop with the one size fits all narrative, responses and support.
I’d love you to help us educate those around us, What would you like the people around you to be more aware of?
Friends, family, colleagues, school friends, employers and our communities … what could they understand or do differently that would make things just that little bit easier?
Or - maybe you are supporting someone and not understanding their actions or feelings and want ask questions - go for it!
Pop it in the comments. You never know who might read your answer and learn something from it. ❤️
