Mountbatten’s Death Chat has a new format for 2019, with the aim of encouraging more Islanders to talk about the one thing that will affect us all.

The informal, relaxed discussion allows anyone to share and explore their thoughts and feelings about life and death, in a safe and supported environment. It is a place where people can express ideas, beliefs and feelings about death and its meaning.

Since launching in 2016, many topics have been discussed including cultural perspectives on death and dying, where certain traditions have come from, the language used in death and dying and why death has become a taboo subject in society.

From January 2019, Mountbatten is taking Death Chat out to its shops in Ventnor and Shanklin where anyone can stop by for a tea or coffee and join the conversation. The monthly chats, supported by Mountbatten’s Psychology and Bereavement team, are as follows:

• Mountbatten Ventnor, 16 Pier Street: 3pm to 4pm, the third Monday of every month
• Mountbatten Shanklin, 63 Regent Street: 3pm to 4pm, the fourth Monday of every month

There will also be a monthly event at Mountbatten Hospice, with a planned schedule of speakers on topics related to death and dying. The new event begins with a showing of the acclaimed film ‘Island’ by Steven Eastwood, which follows the lives and deaths of Islanders cared for and supported by Mountbatten. The first six months’ programme of evening events, all starting at 6pm and held in the John Cheverton Centre, is as follows:

• 1 April 2019, a visit to the Isle of Wight Crematorium for a talk and tour
• 3 June 2019, a talk about the Death Café movement, what it is and how it was started, by Nick Wilde from Death Café Isle of Wight

Nigel Hartley, Mountbatten CEO, said: “Talking about death and dying will not hasten or bring about death; these conversations are about enabling us to make the most of our finite lives, and we know that talking about death and dying can help alleviate fears or concerns and enhance the quality of daily life. Please come along and help us break the taboo over talking about this important topic.”

Death Chat is a free event that is open to the public – you do not have to have any connection with Mountbatten to attend.