#DyingToBeHeard – let’s talk death with Kirklees Libraries
Join Kirklees Libraries for this year’s national Dying Matters Awareness Week 11-17 May, a campaign aimed at highlighting the importance of discussing issues around end of life and encouraging us to open up about our own thoughts on dying, death and bereavement.
With the Covid-19 crisis ongoing and ever prominent in our daily lives, it has made the discussions of dying a daily focus for the media. This dedicated week is an opportunity to share our thoughts and questions that the current situation may raise, giving people the skills and bravery to have these conversations openly.
How to get involved
As always, Kirklees Libraries continue to support our communities. During this imperative week of discussions around dying, they have made it easy for library members to access resources online, including accessing fiction and non-fiction ebooks, all with a the subject matter of dying and death.
Q&A with American author, Kate Mayfield
On Thursday 14th May at 7:00pm, the library service will be hosting a live virtual Q&A session with American author Kate Mayfield where she will discuss her memoirs as a child living in the American South. Book your place at the virtual event.
Virtual Death Café
Never has there been such a need to talk about death and dying. Not a morbid as it may sound, the Virtual Death Café is where people drink tea, eat cake and have informed and sometimes quite enlightening discussions around death. Book your virtual seat at the café.
Cllr Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Corporate said:
“Talking about death and dying is uncomfortable for many people so I’m pleased to see that our library service has decided to approach this sensitive subject through a series of engaging activities.
Kirklees Libraries are at the heart of all we do in our communities and once again they have taken steps to provide support and comfort to people in these difficult times. Now more than ever I would encourage people to talk to each other, about the subject of death, sharing their anxieties and grief at the loss of a loved one. This can often be a great help in dealing with the grieving process.”
Dying Matters Awareness Week is part of a national campaign run by Dying Matters and Hospice UK.