Here are some suggestions on how you can support a friend or family member in these circumstances:

• Listen carefully to the person and offer your assistance.
• Tell the person that you are sorry such an event has occurred and you want to understand and assist them as they go through this period of enormous transition.
• Spend time with the affected person.
• Reassure the person that he/she is safe and normal and that what happened is no reflection of their personal worth.
• Help the person with routine tasks like cleaning, cooking, caring for the family.
• Allow the person some private time.
• Try to understand that the person must grieve and don't take their anger (or other feelings) personally.
• Don't stop calling and when you do call, be prepared to listen.
• Don't keep asking "have you found a job yet?" - you are just asking for a negative response.
• Don't just focus on the unemployment. Remember that they are still multi-dimensional people with more in their life than just work.
• Do something nurturing, something luxurious. Buy them the tea they enjoy. Make a casserole to take over for dinner. Take them out for lunch, or on a picnic in the park.
• Write them a note. Tell them they are missed by their co-workers and that they are valued.
• Call for help or support as soon as you feel it's needed.

There are some danger signs for family and friends to watch for. If after two weeks, they are not getting out of bed, getting dressed, eating properly, if they are not searching for a job, if they are over-medicating, over-computing, over-involved in anything, even if it is something positive, you should be concerned.