The EMB ProjectBereavement
There's no single way to grieve.
Losing someone can change your world.
Every star remembers someone. Tap one to read it.
Every loss matters equally.
Whoever you've lost, however long ago, however other people see it — if you miss them, that's reason enough.
My Starry Night
A place to remember someone you've lost.
Light a star for them. You can add their name, photograph and a few words when you're ready.
A name can be enough. A memory can be enough.
“You are remembered.”
Lighting a star uses a free, anonymous My EMB account. Everything else here is open to everyone.
Grief doesn't look one way
sadnessangerconfusionguiltnumbnesslovememoriesuncertainty
You might feel several things at once. There isn't one correct way to grieve, and there isn't a timetable you have to follow.
Grief can look different from day to day.
- You might want to talk about the person you've lost. You might not want to talk at all.
- You might have days where you laugh, go to school, see friends or enjoy something — and then suddenly feel the loss again.
- None of that means you're grieving incorrectly.
You don't need permission to grieve.
You might be grieving someone the world never heard of. Someone you hadn't spoken to in years. Someone you haven't told anyone you've lost. Someone people expect you to be "over" by now.
- a parent
- a grandparent
- a sibling
- a friend
- a pet
- someone you hadn't spoken to in years
- someone you haven't told anyone about
- someone no one else remembers
Every loss matters equally.
Grief isn't something you have to earn. If you miss them, that's reason enough.
You don't have to grieve alone.
When someone dies, it can be tempting to keep everything inside. Talking to someone you trust can help you feel less alone.
- Family
- Friends
- Teachers
- Counsellors
- GPs
- Trusted adults
“I've lost someone and I'm finding it difficult.”
You don't need to know exactly what you want from them before you reach out.
Remembering can look different for everyone.
Remembering someone doesn't have to look a certain way.
- Keeping photographs
- Writing something down
- Listening to music that reminds you of them
- Visiting somewhere meaningful
- Simply thinking about a memory
There is no right way to remember someone.
When grief feels too heavy
Grief can be difficult to carry, especially when it begins to affect everyday life. If you're finding things difficult to manage, you deserve support.
Talking to someone doesn't mean you're leaving the person you've lost behind. It means you're looking after yourself while carrying the loss.
You don't have to forget.
You may hear people say that you need to "move on".
Grief doesn't have to mean forgetting someone. You can continue living, growing and experiencing new things while still carrying the memory of someone you've lost.
There is room for both.
You don't have to know how to grieve.
You don't have to be okay every day.
You don't have to do it alone.
Take it one day — or one moment — at a time.