KHARON

Thanatology Review

Electronic Journal

Content

Volume 25

Number 4 · 2021

Short article


 GYÖNGYI PORKOLÁB
GYÖNGYI PORKOLÁB

társadalmi-kulturális mediátor

info@porkolabgyongyi.hu

Conversation with children about loss and death - Recognising and handling symptoms of bereavement in education institutions

Abstract · We assigned tasks and set goals in the area of preserving dignity throughout life, respect for the end of life, strengthening social competencies and developing emotional intelligence. The Field of Dignity programme has been developed to overcome the taboo related to death, to help young people recognise the meaning and honour the value of life and to motivate them to active care.
Field of Dignity attitude-forming programme was launched together with the Hungarian Hospice Foundation and has been running for ten years in Debrecen with the participation of nearly a hundred professionals (psychologists, mental health professionals, recreation management professionals and teachers). However, local colleagues were involved in improving and expanding the programme. The field of Dignity program is a specific area of emotional education. Over the last ten years, its inter-institutional programmes contributed to the development of key competencies on one hand, and by implementing a complex system of activities it helped the communication with children about taboo topics like death, loss and pass away, on the other hand. It is a good example of integrating a civic initiative into the practices of public education institutions, while also enriching them. A particularly important achievement of the ten-year programme is the opening of the 20-bed Hospice Palliative Care and Therapeutic Ward within the framework of the University of Debrecen. In addition, an accredited training course titled “The role and possibilities of teachers in educating children to care for others, live life in dignity, and in recognising and handling symptoms of loss experienced by children” has been successfully implemented for teachers, preschool teachers and psychologists. The training programme was developed by the staff of the Debrecen Hospice House Foundation, established in 2015, using the observations and the methodology of the Field of Dignity programme. In light of the above, I summarise the experiences and reflections of preschools and schools.

DR ISTVÁN MAGYARY
DR ISTVÁN MAGYARY

habilitált egyetemi docens

magyary.istvan@pte.hu

Dr. Bruce Greyson - After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life and Beyond

Abstract · In After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life and Beyond, one of the world’s leading experts on near-death experiences shares the lessons he has learned over nearly a half century of studying near-death experiences.