When someone experiences one of life’s challenges, they often say that they discover who their true friends are, because others just seem to disappear. I’d like to think that some of those people just didn’t know what to say, and instead of facing their fear and talking anyway, they made the unfortunate decision of saying nothing at all. My research aims to help people figure out what to say (and what not to say!) in these situations.
I’ve teamed up with my post-doc Dr. Caitlin Kelly, and St. Helena Hospice, to start to study how people talk about death and dying. We’re just getting started, but plan to load up this page with all sorts of resources to help you talk about death and dying.
Specifically about talking about death and dying
- Marie Curie supports people with terminal illnesses by providing information, nurses and hospices. They have an amazing campaign called Talk About that encourages people to talk about death and dying. They have quizzes, podcasts, stories, and blog posts (including What should I say to someone who’s grieving? and What do you say when someone tells you they’re going to die?). They also have tools, including a checklist, and conversation tips, and even playing cards that prompt you to talk about various topics related to death and dying.
Coping with death and dying (sometimes related to talking about death and dying)
- Life. Death. Whatever.: “Five Things is a collection of the five things our collaborators want you to know about life, death and everything in between.”
Gillian M. Sandstrom 