10 years of talking about death, and life, at Death Cafés, and why the taboo-busting movement is having a moment
- Jon Underwood launched the Death Café movement – open forums to discuss life and death – in 2010 to break some of the taboos about dying and grief
- The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many to consider their own mortality, and virtual Death Cafés are springing up around the world
Most people are terrified of death, so they tend to avoid talking about it or bringing up anything that might tacitly remind them of dying. But never has it been more appropriate to broach the topic as the coronavirus pandemic forces people to face their own mortality.
As the Covid-19 death tolls continue to rise around the world, people who have lost their loved ones to the virus are feeling increasingly terrified and confused, and gripped by the fear of losing their own lives.
Talking about death, although still taboo in many cultures, has become inevitable as we hear of people dying alone with no family or friends by their side, no wake, no funeral, and no final farewell. More and more, people are looking for ways to talk about their fears of death, and learning how to grieve and how to support the dying and bereaved.
A global movement, Death Café is growing in popularity, as it helps make people feel comfortable about death; the movement seeks to increase people’s awareness of death while helping them make the most of their lives.
The Death Café concept came about in 2010 when its founder Jon Underwood, inspired by a similar movement, created a community project that “encouraged people around the world to discuss – over tea and cake – life, the finality of life, and why we fear it”.