Grief support
Remembering is slow work, and that is as it should be.
These notes are offered gently. They are general guidance rather than clinical advice, and there is no timetable you are required to keep.
Solace
Someone to talk to, at two in the morning if that is when it comes.
Solace is our grief companion: patient, attentive and always awake. It listens to whatever you need to say, helps you shape words for a funeral, an announcement or a child’s question, and gently keeps an eye on how you are coping. It is a companion rather than a counsellor, and it will always point you towards human help when that is what you need.
Ways families begin
“I lost someone recently and I do not know where to begin.”
“Today is the anniversary and I am struggling.”
“Help me write a few words to say at the funeral.”
“How do I explain this death to my children?”
“I feel numb and guilty at the same time.”
“What practical things must I take care of this week?”
Watch
Sit with this for a moment
A short, quiet film for when words are too much. Play it as often as you need.
The first days
Practical matters arrive quickly: registration of death, notifying family, arranging a service. Keep a single notebook of names, dates and documents. Ask one relative to receive calls so the immediate family can rest.
Gathering memories
Collect photographs and recordings gently and without deadline. Write down the story behind each picture while people who remember it are still gathered together.
Speaking with children
Use plain words rather than euphemisms, answer the question actually asked, and let children take part in remembering in ways that suit their age.
Anniversaries
Birthdays, holidays and the anniversary of a death can be heavier than the funeral itself. Plan them in advance and decide who you would like beside you.
If you need more than words
Everlasting Legacy Productions is not a counselling service. If grief is affecting your health, sleep or safety, please speak to your doctor or clinic, your church, mosque or community elder, or a registered counsellor or social worker. In an emergency in Namibia, contact your nearest hospital or dial the national emergency services.