Why we need to talk about death
As we’ve reported previously, there has been a renewed push in recent months to encourage families to open up and chat about what none of us want to – death. Our reluctance to discuss mortality and grief is silly, if you think about it. We will all eventually die, and we will all have to deal with the death of a loved one. Death Over Dinner aims to change this.
The initiative, which first began in the US in 2013, encourages families to discuss their end of life wishes with one another before it’s too late. Shocking data collected by the Australian Centre for Health Research (ACHR) found that while 74 per cent of us wish to die in the comfort of our own homes, only 14 per cent of us actually do.
“Conversations about end of life care often take place at a hospital in the midst of a crisis,” says ACHR Executive Director Rebecca Bartel. “Decisions have to be made quickly and under stress. This means many people die in a way they wouldn’t choose. Loved ones are left feeling guilty, bereaved and anxious.
“Through Death Over Dinner, we are calling on all Australians to have this conversation at the dinner table with their loved ones, not in the intensive care unit (ICU) after an emergency when it is too late.”
In the US, the Death Over Dinner campaign has prompted more than half a million people to start the discussion at their dinner table. Will you join them? To find out more information, click here.
Is death something that you openly chat about with your loved ones? Tell us in the comments below.
Related links:
Why is talking about death still so taboo?
Cancer patients are not getting palliative care due to stigma
Tips for dealing with death in the digital world