This week is Grief Awareness Week and something that is very close to my heart right now. As we embrace the festive season with all its celebrations and socialising, I am also aware that for many people, this is a time of great sadness and often loneliness.

Only last weekend a friend commented that for her, Christmas has never been the same since her father passed over ten years ago. This week, I will be marking my own father’s birthday, more than 25 years since he passed. And last week I heard the very sad news that an old friend from home had died following a short fight with cancer at just 45 years old. Despite the festivities, life (and death) goes on and we can’t ignore the feelings that come with the loss we feel.

Endless reminders of Christmas on social media, television; endless Christmas music in shops and the pressure to be happy during this time can make Christmas a lonely and deeply sad time for many, many people. For many children, all they want is to see a lost parent this Christmas and no amount of presents will make up for that.

If, like me, you know what it means to experience loss (and this is not just reserved for loss by bereavement) please try to remember that this festive season is just a day, or just a week, or just a month. It may help to understand that there are many, many people like you, who are putting on a brave face or making the best of a difficult time. It may feel so at times, but you are not alone.

People are making the best of it for others, mainly. They don’t want to bring anyone down, spoil everyone else’s time, feel like the downer on the party. They want their friends, partner, children or grandchildren to have a good time and they put on that brave face in order for others to ‘have a good time’. What they really want to do is ignore the whole event and move swiftly into January.

Sometimes it is other people who force us to be happy at this time. I know that I spent years hiding my grief because I was told that I was ruining Christmas for others if I just once mentioned my loss. Being shut down is the hardest form of loneliness and it is important for us all to recognise and acknowledge the loss that we feel at this time.

This is about grief ‘awareness’. So showing someone that you see they really struggling with their loss can be a really powerful tool when we’re talking to our friends and loved ones at this festive time.

I’d encourage anyone to ask about their friend’s loved one, ask them how they’re feeling, talk to them about how hard this time must be for them and invite them to share how they are feeling when there are festivities all around them. Just being aware is the kindest and most accepting present you can give someone this December.