Summer of Learning: Talking about death and dying – Why it’s important and how to overcome your anxiety It’s not always easy to have conversations about death and dying. It can be uncomfortable, you may worry about upsetting people, or believe that talking about it will bring it closer. But it doesn’t have to be like that. We all know that death is inevitable, but still often avoid talking about it. Whether it’s about your own death and what you would like to happen or talking to those close to you about their death, it’s important to have those conversations. It can help you get organised, make your wishes clear and help loved ones cope better with the emotional impact of the death. When people come to Cruse for support, they are often struggling to come to terms with feelings and questions that arise from not having talked before someone dies. During this session we will explore: • Why death and dying is so hard to talk about and how to overcome that • Why talking about it is important and the problems with not having those conversations • What would be helpful to talk about • Practical guidance on how to start and have those conversations