Grief - Taking Action for Wellbeing

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May 2026) invites us to focus on taking Action to look after our mental health – small, meaningful steps we can take for ourselves and for others around us. 

When we are living with grief, action doesn’t mean fixing our pain – it is not something to be fixed. In many ways, grief itself is an action.

Philosopher Earl Grollman coins it well when he says, “The only cure for grief is to grieve.” Wellbeing in grief means taking notice of what we are experiencing and finding ways to express and live with that loss.

The NHS Five Ways to Wellbeing – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, Give – offers a compassionate framework for taking action at our own pace, in ways that feel manageable.

Taking that framework, here are Cruse Scotland’s suggestions on how we can use these ways to express, understand and connect with our grief.

Connect – Action through presence

Grief can be deeply isolating. Taking action might mean letting someone know how you’re really feeling, accepting support, or simply spending time with people who feel safe. Connection doesn’t require positivity – just honesty and presence.

Be Active – Action through movement

Grief lives in the body. Taking action can be as simple as a short walk, stretching, or stepping outside for fresh air. Even a few minutes of movement can help release tension and support emotional balance.

Take Notice – Action through awareness

Noticing your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations can help you stay grounded when grief feels overwhelming. Action here might be pausing, breathing, or acknowledging a hard moment rather than pushing through it.

Keep Learning – Action through understanding

Learning about grief – how it affects sleep, memory, emotions, and energy – can reduce guilt and self‑blame. Action might include reading, attending a workshop, or exploring creative ways to express what you’re carrying.

Give – Action through kindness

Giving begins with kindness towards yourself: resting when needed, setting boundaries, asking for help. When it feels possible, small acts for others can restore a sense of purpose and connection.

Mental Health Awareness Week reminds us that every action counts, no matter how small. Grief and wellbeing can coexist – not because grief is easy, but because it is necessary.