'We need to talk about... death': film hoped to spark conversation around the topic
It's been commissioned by NHS Somerset's Integrated Care Board ahead of Dying Matters Awareness Week
A special film is being premiered by NHS Somerset's Integrated Care Board today in Taunton (26 April) - around the topic of death and dying.
It's been made after feedback from carers, friends and families of those with learning disabilities - after saying they sometimes don't feel equipped to have such conversations, despite knowing the importance of talking about the subject.
NHS Somerset’s LeDeR team worked on commissioning a film made by and with those with learning disabilities and autism to talk about death and dying - which is what is being shared today by the health service in a bid to spark those conversations more widely across the county.
Biggerhouse Film got to work on the project with a group of adults with learning disabilities and autistic people from My Day Care Services to produce this film which looks at the often taboo subject of death and dying.
The idea behind the film is all to help give people the confidence to have these conversations, and comes ahead of Dying Matters Awareness Week, which takes place between May 6th and May 12th.
This year’s theme focuses on the language that we use, and conversations we have, around death and dying – specifically between healthcare professionals and patients, their carers and their families.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Rachel Donne-Davis from the NHS Somerset ICB told us: "For all of us involved in the film, it made us all think about what is actually important to us.
"The main message to me would be to encourage everyone to have a conversation, and not to wait to talk about these things like death and dying - to make sure everyone can communicate their needs and wishes to their loved ones.
"People worry about saying the wrong thing, or maybe think about talking about death and dying being too blunt - it's really not.
"In the film, we talk about this very universal thing - but it's really interesting, and quite funny, how we actually use so much other language around it.
"We know that death and dying is a topic that's really difficult for us all to deal with - and we hope this gives people chance to really think about it and open up with their loved ones about."
You can find out more about the film on the NHS Somerset ICB website.