Dr Kershaw’s Hospice encourages open conversations during Dying Matters Awareness Week

Katie Stretton, counsellor at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice

The annual awareness week, led by Hospice UK, runs until 10 May and aims to break down stigma around end of life conversations.

This year’s theme is ‘Let’s talk about Death and Dying’ and encourages discussions between families, friends and colleagues about grief and end of life care.

Research by Celebration Day found that 30 per cent of people bottle up their feelings about death and grief, while 27 per cent find it difficult to talk about death with family or friends.

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice says open conversations can help people feel less isolated during difficult times.

Katie Stretton, counsellor at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, said: “Talking about death and dying can feel hard, but it can also help people to make sense of what is happening and feel less alone.”

The hospice offers bereavement counselling alongside wellbeing walks, therapeutic support groups and The Nightbird Project, where people living with life limiting illnesses can share experiences through art.

Dr Kershaw’s has also introduced new inclusive bereavement resources.

These include books by diverse authors including Joseph Coelho and Janine Kwoh, alongside neuro inclusive communication cards designed to support people with limited speech, learning disabilities, autism or ADHD.

Katie Stretton added: “We have made sure that our bereavement resources reflect different families and types of loss.

“Our resources are tailored for all ages – from children to young people and adults – so everyone can feel seen and included.”

The hospice has also introduced Muslim bereavement boxes and is working with the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir temple to raise awareness of hospice care within the South Asian community.