How To Tell Someone A Loved One Has Died

When a loved one passes away, you may have to bear the responsibility of informing family and friends about the death. The manner in which you break this news to them is likely to remain with them for a significantly long time. Exactly how you give them this news, matters a great deal.

This is a very important aspect regardless of whether you are speaking with a friend, close relatives or even their work associates or casual acquaintances. It’s difficult for you to know exactly how close someone was to the person, and what their sense of loss will be.

The Steps To Follow:

Here are some things to keep in view when you are telling someone a loved one has died:

• It's best to tell the person face to face, unless someone is overseas and you need to give them this news over a phone call.
• If you have many calls to make, get the toughest conversations out of the way right at the start. These conversations can be quite draining and stressful.
• When you are speaking to someone in person, take measures to avoid potential interruptions at that point of time. Is important to break the news in a space that gives them some flexibility to react to what they have heard, in the manner they like.

Things To Avoid

• It's best not to use any euphemisms such as -" They are in a much better place now". "They have passed on" etc. Try to be direct, as euphemisms can confuse people. This is very important when you are speaking with children as well.
• Even if you feel like you want to make them feel better at that point of time, never make any promises that you would be unable to keep. That will only impact the trust they have in you.
• Do not bring in any unrelated matters while informing them about the death

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