Discussing death and dying

Conversations about death and dying don’t happen enough as they can be difficult and upsetting. However, researchers found that these conversations can be beneficial if done in a supportive, collaborative way.

We’ve found that people are very keen to talk about death, grief and remembering their loved ones. It’s just about finding the right spaces to allow them to get through their initial sense of discomfort around the topic.

—Dr Laura King

Impact

• Cultural impact: curated and shared a “mobile museum of grief” in the UK and Germany.

Key information

• Disciplines: social sciences, history, art
• Investigators: Dr Laura King

Keywords: grief, emotion, recovery, mental health, taboo, peer support, community