Dying Matters Awareness Week continues this week

May 10, 2023

This week is Dying Awareness Week, an annual campaign run by Hospice UK, it aims to get people talking and sharing stories openly about dying and grief, to reduce the associated stress, stigma, and social isolation. This year’s theme is ‘dying matters’ at work too.

57 per cent of colleagues will have experienced a bereavement in the last five years and every day, more than 600 people quit work to look after older and disabled relatives. And yet, fewer than one in five managers feel very confident supporting someone they manage with a bereavement.

By talking to those around you, you can help us make sure that workplaces are properly set up to support people who are ill, who are caring for those around them, or who have lost someone close to them.

Stigma around grieving, and a lack of understanding about what it means to be ill and what happens when you’re dying, means that too many of us are struggling to cope when faced with life’s inevitable challenges. And the workplace is no exception.

We spend so much of our lives at work – and we shouldn’t have to hide our experiences of death and dying from our colleagues, our peers, or our bosses. We want to create open and compassionate society where we are comfortable facing the realities of dying, death and grief.

Colleagues from our palliative care team will be hosting an information stand in the main reception area at Sandwell Hospital (Tuesday – Thursday) 11.30am – 1.30pm and at City, main reception front entrance (near Archers) on Friday 12 May from 11.30am – 1.30pm – do head over and speak to the team – they have chocolates!

Information will also be on display at Rowley and Leasowes.

You can find out more about Dying Matters Week by clicking here.