Getting comfortable talking about death

For many people, conversations about death are considered taboo and can be very difficult to confront.

But Metro North’s Community and Oral Health is helping make these conversations easier with a dedicated café where people can connect and personally talk about their end-of-life journeys.

The Death Café, hosted at the Brighton Wellness Hub, provides an open non-judgemental space where people from all walks of life, age groups and cultural backgrounds can come together to discuss the loss of life over biscuits and tea.

University of Sunshine Coast lecturer Dr John Rosenberg said that the aim of the café is to increase awareness about death with a view to help people to cherish and make the most of their lives.

“The café is an accessible, respectful and confidential space, with no intention of leading people to any conclusion or course of action,” John said.

“Conversations are driven by participants with the group deciding what they want to talk about – we just facilitate the discussions.

“We talk about many things from care planning, the practice of grieving, cultural views and traditions, and an individual’s personal journey through their own life.

“By talking and sharing experiences, this helps participants to think about death in a healthy and practical way.”

The free café is facilitated by Dr John Rosenberg and Home Hospital Bereavement Coordinator Kylie White.

Kylie said that the opportunity to talk about death is not new, with the first Death Café conducted in the United Kingdom in 2011.

“There are many different views about death across many cultures, and these discussions have been gathering momentum over the past decade,” Kylie said.

“Hundreds of countries are now getting comfortable talking about this taboo subject with regular Cafés being facilitated and run across the world.”

“The café is based on group directed discussion with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.

“It is important for people to increase their knowledge and understanding of grief and end-of-life so they can feel more comfortable with the experience.

“The café provides an opportunity to discuss a subject that is often hidden and uncomfortable, in an open and honest way.”

The next free Death Café experience for Brisbane North and Moreton Bay residents will be held in the coming months at the Brighton Wellness Hub.

For further information call 3631 7568. Numbers are limited to 20 people per group.