# Support a friend going through grief, illness, or a hard time

What to say, what to avoid, and specific practical help to offer a friend who is struggling.

- Topic: Personal Life & Wellbeing
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Analyze, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/support-a-friend-going-through-grief-illness-or-a-hard-time

## Prompt

```text
Help me support a friend who is going through something hard.

**What they're dealing with:** [e.g. "lost a parent", "new cancer diagnosis", "divorce", "lost their job", "miscarriage"]
**How close we are:** [CLOSE FRIEND / GOOD FRIEND / ACQUAINTANCE / COWORKER]
**What I know about how they cope:** [e.g. "private", "likes company", "hates fuss"]
**Distance and what I can realistically offer:** [LIVE NEARBY? TIME, SKILLS, BUDGET]
**What I've already said or done:** [ANY CONTACT SO FAR]

Give me:
1. A short first message I can send now, with no pressure to reply.
2. Phrases that help, and common phrases to avoid (with why), suited to this situation.
3. 8 specific, practical offers (instead of "let me know if you need anything"), matched to what I can give. Write each as a concrete offer they can say yes or no to.
4. How to stay in touch over the coming weeks and months, including dates that may be hard (anniversaries, holidays, follow-up appointments).
5. How to listen well when we talk, and what to do if I say the wrong thing.
6. How to look after myself while supporting them.

If they mention not wanting to live, self-harm, or not coping at all, tell me to take it seriously, stay with them if I can, and contact a crisis line or emergency services right away.
```

## What to fill in

- CLOSE FRIEND / GOOD FRIEND / ACQUAINTANCE / COWORKER
- e.g. "private", "likes company", "hates fuss"
- LIVE NEARBY? TIME, SKILLS, BUDGET
- ANY CONTACT SO FAR

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.