Changing attitudes to death and dying
We are helping everyone to feel confident talking about dying and grief so that they can support each other better.
44%
of the British public feel unsure of what to say to someone who has been bereaved *
We know that many people are unsure what to say to someone who has been bereaved. We don’t want to upset anyone when someone has died, but often saying or doing nothing is also not helpful.
We need to equip people with the right language and tools to know how to speak to someone where someone has died – so that no-one feels alone in their grief.
60%
of people have not spoken to anyone about their own end-of-life wishes *
Death is a difficult subject. It’s painful and sad to think about, and it can be even harder to talk about. If we avoid the subject, it can make things difficult. We need people to be comfortable talking about dying and able to express their wishes, this includes the person who is dying, their loved ones and healthcare professionals.
How is Sue Ryder campaigning for change?
Sue Ryder is building a national movement of understanding and kindness to support people with grief.
Death and grief are currently not included in the national curriculum. Heidi Travis, Sue Ryder’s Chief Executive, explains why we are calling for an urgent change.
To highlight our new research, which revealed mealtimes as being particularly difficult for people who are grieving, we took an exhibit into Parliament.