2. How should we deal with death? Everybody deals with bereavement differently, some people prefer to deal with it in their own way and grieve silently – this is fine. Others like to reach out and seek support – this is also fine. Never be embarrassed or feel uncomfortable, it happens to us all. Most healthcare professionals agree that bereavement is best overcome when we face our grief and talk about it openly. This is not for everybody and we must be sensitive when discussing such a personal issue. So should death be something that we talk about openly?

3. Death and bereavement used to be seen as taboo. Nowadays people are becoming more open about the issue – death is talked about openly in the media, for example, on television. How many examples can you give of films/tv shows that have dealt with death in recent years? You have 3 minutes to list as many examples as you can. From the examples you have given I want you to consider the following – How was death dealt with? Openly and honestly or not? How was bereavement dealt with? Positively or negatively? Why was this issue included in the film/show? For entertainment? For shock value? Who was this show/movie aimed at? Does this make a difference to the way the issue was portrayed?

4. Should the media show issues of death and bereavement openly?

5. Surprisingly, many children's tv shows and movies have openly dealt with the topic of death. A good example of this is Disney – the lion king, bambi. Is this right? Are Disney films successful in their treatment of such sensitive topics?

6. Should bereavement be dealt with at school? YesNo

7. What could school do to help young people dealing with bereavement?

8. Offering support It’s hard to know what to say to somebody who has lost a love one, but sometimes it’s just nice to know that you have somebody looking out for you. Grab some pieces of coloured paper, cut them into strips. On each strip write a piece of advice, something supportive, or even just a nice message that you would offer somebody dealing with bereavement. We are going to link them all together to make one long paper chain of support as a class.

9. Where can I get help at school If you are struggling then it might be a good idea to contact someone at school, even if this is just to make someone aware of your situation. Speak to your tutor – they are there to help you and know lots of useful stuff. They can speak to others for you if you don’t want to. School nurse – she’s here every Thursday at break time. Stress from bereavement can cause physical and mental difficulties and the nurse will know how to deal with this. ECM – there job is to look out for your wellbeing! Your PL – they can make your subject teachers aware of the fact that you may need extra support with your workload, etc.

10. Useful websites If you or someone you know would like support, someone to talk to, or even just a bit of advice, these websites might be a good place to start www.childbereavementuk.org www.griefencounter.org/teen-zone www.getconnected.org.uk You can also visit your doctor if you feel that you are not coping with bereavement, don’t be embarrassed… they can really help you.