LECTURERS at the University of Salford are asking students to open up about death and welcome it as part of life.
As an alternative to Halloween, academics and students will mark the Mexican festival Día de Muertos ‘The Day of the Dead’ with a range of events on November 1st to “break the taboo that still exists on talking around death and dying.”
Talks, music, poetry and activities are being organised on campus by nursing and counselling and psychotherapy academics and students to explore the themes inspired by the Mexican “Day of the Dead” festival where people remember those they have lost and honour them.
David Garbutt, a lecturer in end-of-life care, in the School of Health & Society, said: “We want to challenge this traditional quite closed and distant attitude towards death by encouraging people to open up and talk about it. People think they are being tactful or just don’t know how to broach the topic, but is not talking about death really a healthy attitude to something which affects all of us?”
'Death Cafe'
The organisers are David Garbutt and Maria Kefalogianni lecturers in nursing and counselling & psychotherapy respectively along with Jen Earl academic support librarian. They claim there is a growing death positive movement across the UK shown in the number of initiatives which contribute towards demystifying and breaking the taboo that still exists on talking around death and dying. Earlier this year the same group ran a "Death Cafe" on campus but have expanded this event to include a range of information about dealing with end of life and grief and loss.
Students, staff and representatives from the community are invited to attend talks and presentations by green funeral directors, humanist funeral celebrants, user and carer representatives, clinical health and social care staff, bereavement support services as well as faith and cultural leaders. The event also hopes to provide an opportunity for creative activities such as letter writing, poetry, music and performance all with the aim of opening a dialogue around death and dying and challenging social and cultural taboos. If you want to take part by contributing any performance then it’s not too late, just get in touch
The event will take place at the Students’ Union Atmosphere bar in University House from 2pm onwards and people can also use the hashtag #dayofthedeaduos across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to follow the event online and share comments about loved ones or any pictures or songs that remind you of those you have lost.
Details of the event can be found on Twittter: @EoLF_UoS #dayofthedeaduos and you can register an interest on our event page on Facebook: @eolcuos; and instagram: end.of.life.forum. or contact us via email: Maria Kefalogianni: M.Kefalogianni@salford.ac.uk @MariaKef14 or David Garbutt: D.Garbutt@salford.ac.uk @David_Garbutt.
- "Though the physicality of death destroys us, the idea of death might save us" - Irvin Yalom
