LightsOut

It's curious that our education institutions do not include death education as mainstream....this impacts professionals when they confront grief in their work; “….General Practitioners (Dr/GPs) urgently need education both at the undergraduate and postgraduate degree levels, and in continuing professional development” (O’Connor & Breen 2014).  LightsOut offers an education model inclusive of higher education. We aim to enhance students eLearning experience by providing a personal development initiative tailored for undergrad students who confront grief in their professional roles.  Until formal death education is available as mainstream - our curriculum resources help educators incorporate grief skills into their teaching. This approach ensures that higher education participants receive consistent and supportive guidance on dealing with grief as part of the job readiness (Minty R. et al., 2023; Ramos R et al., 2022). Research over the past decades indicates that a formal death education curriculum is needed! It would indeed be beneficial to witness the transition of formal curriculum development from research into practice.

On World Health Day today (10th October) – let’s look at the theme, 'Mental Health at Work'! At LightsOut, we believe that accessible Grief Education Programs can significantly enhance mental health outcomes. Employers can significantly benefit employees by incorporating grief education into their professional development programs. By promoting grief awareness, employees will feel more empowered to support grieving colleagues, emphasizing the importance of mental health, creating supportive work environments, addressing workplace stressors, and promoting peer support. This also contributes to a better work-life balance. #WorldMentalHealthDay

We are pleased to announce that LightsOut is presenting at the upcoming Europe Grief Conference. European Grief Conference 2024 is this November in Dublin, Ireland. The conference will bring together researchers, practitioners and educators from around the world to explore how bereavement unfolds for different people and how to support those who are grieving.  #EGC2024 is hosted by Irish Hospice Foundation, in partnership with Bereavement Network Europe (BNE), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Danish National Center for Grief. Register: https://lnkd.in/e3_Jt4nB #EuropeanGriefConference2024

Formal Death Education in schools has proven to be a protective factor for both teachers and students. According to data from Child Bereavement UK (2019), 90% of teachers report a lack of training in supporting bereaved children, despite 86 percent acknowledging the necessity of addressing bereavement within the school community. Teachers also express a need for confidence and skills to effectively teach death education, pointing out a gap in their undergraduate training (Ramos Pla. et al., 2023). Medical and mental health professionals also emphasize the necessity for "enhanced education on delivering difficult news and initiating conversations about death and end-of-life care (Sutherland R. pg1. 2019)". Developing grief skills is a crucial part of Death Education advancement, fostering confidence and equipping professionals with the tools to support their clients and patients. LightsOut advocates for grief learning in schools, as an NFP, we provide a comprehensive school curriculum, we also offer a platform for professional learning and reflective practice for a variety of education and workplace settings. https://lnkd.in/gujDNBTV) 

Today is Grief Awareness Day. 💙 Grieving a loved one lost to suicide takes time, energy, and space. Be patient through the process. For resources to help navigate grief and loss, visit afsp.org/loss.

Sex was a taboo topic in the 20th Century; however, it was gradually included in the school curriculum. However, the opposite has  occurred with death, resulting in the current taboo concept of death found in the school curriculum (Ramos-Pla A. et al., 2022). We urge all education professionals to reflect on the importance of incorporating death education in Schools and Professional training as well as post school professional courses. Addressing students' questions and doubts about death is a fundamental responsibility of educators. By discussing death openly, we can normalize its presence in educational settings, fostering a healthier approach to future grief. Addressing death naturally, rather than in response to unexpected situations, allows for a more effective educational response. Introducing death education as part of health subjects in schools normalizes discussions about death and grief. By educating students about life, they learn to live fully in the present, becoming aware of human mortality. This approach promotes a healthy treatment of the subject of death. Incorporating death education within personal development or health education subjects maximizes students' access to information and learning opportunities as they grow. This requires the entire education team to be familiar with the subject. Teaching death within the framework of Personal Development or Health Education offers numerous benefits including enabling grief skills. To achieve this, it is essential to include death education in the initial training of teachers. Without prior exposure, it will be challenging for educators to implement it effectively in schools. LightsOut advocates for death education that focuses on grief skill learning in schools. #Death Education (https://lnkd.in/gzuqsTjV) https://lnkd.in/gWdT8YUb

Lived Experience needs to be central to all that we do in the mental health care space- including mental health promotion.

Reflecting on Death and Lived Experience..... Confronting the reality of death isn't easy, but it's a conversation worth having. From understanding our own mortality to planning for the inevitable, talking about death empowers us to live more fully in the present. We have both come to realize that many of us don’t truly contemplate death until it touches our lives personally. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a close friend’s grief, or even a near-death experience, these moments bring the reality of mortality into sharp focus. Before such experiences, death often feels like a distant concept, something that happens to others. But when it becomes part of our lived experience, it transforms our perspective. We begin to understand the profound impact it has on our mental health, our relationships, and our outlook on life. This realization has deepened our appreciation for the importance of grief education and mental health support. It’s crucial to create spaces where people can share their stories, find support, and learn to navigate their grief. By fostering cultural awareness and providing practical strategies, we can help each other through these challenging times. Let’s continue to support one another with empathy and authenticity, recognizing that grief is a universal experience, yet deeply personal and unique to each individual. Robyn & Bianca (in Memoriam)

Showing Empathy towards a grieving person goes a long way in supporting them. There is absolutely nothing that we can say that will make their situation any better, so meeting them where they are at, helps to make them feel less alone in their grief. LightsOut aims to make grief embraced and understood. In our Grief Education Program, we explore Empathy and gain insights into what Empathy really is and how we can be more empathetic in practical ways. This ensures we are in a good place to come from when supporting self and others.

LightsOut agrees that Grief is a public health issue....an interesting short article to ponder upon here from our friends in the grief literacy sector. https://lnkd.in/gaeJh4yQ