Dying Matters Awareness Week takes place 6-12 May 2024 with the theme ‘The way we talk about Dying Matters’.
This includes a focus on the language that we use and conversations we have around death and dying, specifically between healthcare professionals and patients, their carers and their families.
It’s good to start planning ahead and thinking about how you can make the most of your life. Planning ahead doesn’t need to be about negative thoughts but, rather about what you would like for you and your family, and peace of mind that things that are important to you are shared with those around you.
Some good questions are: “What’s important to you for your own death?”, “How would you like to be remembered?”, “What’s on your bucket list?”, and “What would be your funeral song(s)?”.
It is normal, and OK, to think about these things and speak to loved ones and friends about them as well.
To encourage people to overcome the stigma of talking about death and dying NHS South Yorkshire are holding a joint event with Doncaster Council:
- The Way We Talk About Dying Matters Community Event
- Wednesday 8 May 2024
- 4 - 6pm
- At The Point, 16 South Parade, Doncaster, DN1 2DR.
This is a free drop-in event for anyone to attend where there will be information and advice; and a free-flowing conversation around planning ahead for your own death but also how you can make the most of your life.
As part of the awareness week the Sheffield Life, Loss and Death Festival May 2024 is also taking place. The Festival offers a month of free events in Sheffield, throughout May 2024. There will be a series of over 40 free events across Sheffield and online, with at least one event each day. Events include music, activities in nature, writing, open mic session, authors panel, exhibitions, discussion groups and much more. Everyone is welcome! You can find out more on the Compassionate Sheffield website.
For useful information, advice, support, and contacts the Donny Dot website provides a wide-range of local and national support for bereavement and grief. You can take a look at the website here.