Creator resource: How to navigate grief and loss

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The Center for Health Communication works to create toolkits and briefings that help content creators spread evidence-based health information on social media. The information provided is meant to be educational and is not a substitute for medical advice. This page was last updated on 10/2/2026.

This toolkit is designed to help creators navigate their own grief while sharing content that is evidence-based and grounded in the latest scientific research. It was developed through Dr. Christy Denckla’s course on grief, loss, and death, offered at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Drawing on existing best practices from the Center for Health Communication, the next sections offer key strategies for creating content on grief and loss that is accurate, responsible, and truly supportive for others.

Reframing the conversation

Grief and loss over the death of a loved one are universal human experiences that everyone will be touched by at some point. Despite how common grief is, it’s often misunderstood, and people often don’t get the help they need. To make conversations about grief more empowering and evidence-based, work to infuse these perspectives:

Grievers rarely go through predictable stages in the same order, and often show a great deal of adaptability and resilience . Research shows that many common beliefs about grief – like the idea that everyone experiences denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance – are myths. Creators can help dispel myths about what grief should look like by sharing stories of how grief impacted you or those you know and how you coped, helping others feel less pressure to “grieve the right way.” For example, some people might cope by moving back and forth between their regular, daily activities and those related to the mourning of the loss rather than following a single path.

Grief is experienced in the body, not just in the mind. The stress of separation activates deep, automatic responses formed during bonding, far beyond conscious thought. Describing these physical symptoms helps normalize what people feel but often can’t explain. Creators can highlight different types of healing that can be useful to grieving people whether it’s exercise, massage, nature, music, or something else.

Social and cultural identities shape how people grieve, because communities experience loss in very different ways. For example, Black Americans experience loss earlier in their lives and more frequently – driven by racism, health inequities, and structural challenges – which creates a higher grief burden. Naming these systemic disparities helps people feel seen and reminds audiences that grief isn’t just personal, it’s patterned by society.

Grief can induce isolation or silence because they sense that others feel uneasy or unsure how to respond. When communities don’t acknowledge a loss, grievers may hide their feelings to avoid judgment or exclusion, which only deepens their isolation. Creators can increase understanding and awareness of how grief is experienced by highlighting resources and trainings that help supporters respond more effectively to grieving people.

Emerging areas

Other types of loss

Grief and loss can extend beyond the death of a loved one. People may grieve the loss of a relationship, a job, a sense of identity, future plans, or the impacts of climate change on the natural world. Grief can arise from any significant change or transition that disrupts our sense of stability or connection and at some point in life, each of us will be touched by grief in one form or another.

Climate grief

Ecological grief is the emotional response people feel when the environment changes or natural places are lost. It’s especially strong for those whose lives are closely tied to nature—like farmers, divers, and Indigenous communities—but it can affect anyone. It’s a natural, human reaction to witnessing changes in the climate and our natural world. Creators can share stories about the natural places that are meaningful to them and what their loss signifies.

AI and grief

An increase in AI-powered “grief tech” tools claim to facilitate interactions with digital versions of their loved ones, but research has not yet been done and caution is warranted. As this kind of tech keeps growing, creators have an important role in urging caution with the use of these tools to prevent further harm. Concerns over rapid changes caused by AI like losing a job are another type of non-death loss.

Take action

Advocate for better bereavement policies

Share these resources with your employer, human resources department, or local and state policymakers – Evermore, Option B resources for Employees and HR Leaders

Find community

Death Cafes, The Grief Channel, Tender Hearts Grief Groups

Support others with their grief

Center for Prolonged Grief Tip Sheet, Ten Ways to Support

Create a personalized grief practice access your feelings and navigate your loss

Meghan Riordan Jarvis’ Grief MENTOR Method) provides a framework to identify tools that can become part of your practice:

Mindfulness: the practice of being fully present in the moment can be used to check in with your inner experience and emotions. Sharing how you practice mindfulness whether it’s through meditation, walking, or engaging fully in activities you enjoy, can help others explore these methods.
Energy: grief impacts our energy levels and can be exhausting for some or activating for others. Pay attention to what drains you and what energizes you so that you can choose activities based on your energy levels.
Nourishment: because grief impacts our energy, it’s important to stay nourished through food, rest, creativity, spirituality, or any other activity that is fulfilling and meaningful to you. Share how you choose to nourish your body.
Translation: this involves using a practice like journaling, writing poetry, or storytelling that helps you reflect on your difficult emotions, create your own story of loss, how you share it with others, and the meaning you draw from it
Outdoors: the natural world can help regulate our nervous system and help reconnect us to other living things. Share how you access the outdoors and how this helps with your grief.
Ritual: many grievers turn to cultural or personal traditions that acknowledge the period of loss and provide ways for them to receive support. Share a ritual that’s meaningful to you in navigating your loss.

Stats to know

Over 3 million people a year die in the U.S.; 62 million people die globally each year

1 in 10 people will experience prolonged grief; there is evidence that prolonged grief treatment can help for those who are able to access it

1 in 11 children in the U.S. have experienced the death of a parent or sibling

By age 18, Black and Hispanic youth are about twice as likely as White youth to have lost a parent.

Content resources

For those creating content about grief and loss, these resources provide guidelines and support:

Sample content warning to customize

⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses themes of grief and loss. Everyone copes with loss differently. If you’re struggling, you are not alone. Please seek support from a grief counselor, hotline, or community support network.

Common hashtags

#Grief #GriefTok #Grieving #GriefJourney #GriefSupport #HealingFromLoss #GriefAndLoss #MentalHealth #ItsOkayToGrieve #GriefIsLove #GriefAwareness #Bereavement #GrievingTogether #LossOfALovedOne #GrievingChild #CopingWithGrief #GoneButNotForgotten #InLovingMemory #GriefHealing #LifeAfterLoss