good life, good death, good grief

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Awareness week launched

Over 200 organisations have come together to organise the first ever Scottish awareness week aimed at encouraging people to be more open about death, dying and bereavement.

Campaign alliance Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief say that avoiding the topic of death can cause problems including people not dying where they want to, families facing legal battles because loved ones haven’t left wills and bereaved people feeling isolated.

In response the group has organised a week of activities across Scotland to spark conversation, from theatre shows to the installation of temporary walls where the public will be asked to write down what they want to do before they die.

Two of Scotland’s best loved TV presenters and broadcasters Cat Harvey and Michelle McManus, became amongst the first to write on Scotland’s Before I Die walls. Real Breakfast Show presenter Cat showed her positive side saying she’d like “to laugh lots and be healthy”. Ever the optimist she also added she’d like to meet Hollywood star, Bradley Cooper and “introduce him to Nutella”. Pop Idol winner and TV presenter Michelle shared many of Cat’s ambitions but her star-struck wish is to meet JK Rowling. Being an obsessed fan of hers, Michelle added she’d like to “not be arrested when I do meet her”.

Director of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief, Mark Hazelwood, said: “Everyone in Scotland will die but strangely it can be hard to remember that this will inevitably include our self.

“As a result it is easy to overlook some simple practical steps which can make things easier for friends and family when the time comes.

“It’s easier to get this stuff sorted out whilst fit and well, and then get on with living life to the full.

“Important actions include legal stuff like making a will and a power of attorney and personal things like considering what music you might like at your funeral and reflecting on what you really want to have done before you die.”

Events to promote the message that talking about death is a good thing have been organised across the country by members of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief including charities, NHS boards, individuals and local community organisations.

One of the most unique conversation starters will be the installation of temporary walls covered with the words “Before I die I want to.....” that will be scattered across the country.

Members of the public will be asked to finish the sentence with the one thing they most want to do before they die.

The project has been inspired by an art project started in New Orleans that spread across the USA and across the world.

Other events include death cafes, a film screening, shopping centre displays, workshops, drop-in sessions, and a theatre performance.

Barbara Chalmers, Founder of Final Fling and organiser of Glad to be Alive, a death cafe taking place in Glasgow said: "I expect Glad to be Alive to appeal to ordinary folk who want to share thoughts about a subject that we are told is a taboo. It's not a counselling session. It's not a goth-fest. It's just a friendly place to talk openly - shrug off any notion of taboo. With cake!"

Mark added: “We hope these events will lead to people having conversations about death who perhaps would have felt the topic was off limits before.

“We think the Before I Die walls will be especially popular as they allow people to have a bit of fun and think about what they really want out of life while hopefully also thinking about the more serious issues.”

So, what do you want to do before you die? Share it with Scotland.

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Before I die I want to ...
Bereavement Charter for Scotland
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