As a society old and young, we still hold many reservations around talking about death. This has led to stigma surrounding the topic and ultimately the grief which follows. Therefore, bereaved people of all ages may struggle to be supported in their grief as they feel unable to reach out when they need it most. Or, they can feel unsupported as the topic of death can be avoided leading to little education in how to support grieving individuals.

However, a recent study performed by Farewill asked 2,000 people their opinion on death and dying in the UK. Firstly, they found that the pandemic made 1 in 3 people more open to talking about death. Interestingly, from the 2,000 individuals, it was found that 63% of the Gen-Z participants were more open than any other generation to talk about their end-of-life wishes. The Gen-Z group are said to be those born between the years of 1997-2012.

It is refreshing to read something so positive about our societies younger generations. It shows that we do care and that we do want to have a say in how we die. Although we have been branded by many a spokesperson as ‘snowflakes’ - studies like this show that we want to take charge of our futures whilst also trying to shape the futures of those we love. By speaking out about topics such as death and dying, we are trying to break the mold and end the taboo which society has created for many years. The study also found that 1/4 people say they don’t talk about death and dying because, ‘no-one else does’ - point proven. The study further found that 18-34 year olds were less likely to want a traditional funeral (where guests wear black, there’s a eulogy, hymns and prayers, a black hearse) because of concerns around the impact on the environment. The increase in environmental activism we’ve seen over the last few years seems to have had an impact on attitudes to death too.

Although death and dying is a very sensitive topic to talk about, we can make the grieving process that little bit easier for those we love by letting them know what matters most to us for the last time.

If you’d like to read more of the report by Farewill, you can click here.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this report, you can comment below what you think.

As always, if you are grieving - reach out for support. Cruse and Hope Again want to support you in the best way we can, you never have to grieve alone. If you’d like to speak to someone about how you are feeling, reach out to us via email anytime: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk.

You can also call the freephone Cruse helpline on: 0808 808 1677.

If you’re over 18, you may also like to chat with a trained bereavement counsellor by using the CruseChat on the Cruse website. Their services are open Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm.

Remember, you have a purpose in this world - even when you are grieving. You are braver than you think and stronger than you know.