A brief transcript excerpt from a YouTube video (recorded April 3, 2011) in which Speaker A asks David Kessler what to say to a friend who has lost someone. Kessler advises simple, honest supportive phrases: admit you may not have the right words, offer availability ("call me anytime"), share a favorite memory, say "I'm sorry for your loss," and emphasize presence over fixing the grief.
What do I say to my friend after they have lost someone?
Some things to say to your friend after they have lost someone is to just be honest and say, I don't know what the right words are, but just know I'm here for you. You can call me anytime and talk about it. It's also nice sometimes to share a favorite memory of the loved one. You can just say something as simple as, I'm sorry for your loss. Remind them that you're there for them. It's really the simpler things. You don't need to fix them. Just know that they're hurting, they're in pain, and you're their friend, and it's nice that you're by their side.
