Jade made us think about death
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The death of reality TV star Jade Goody has helped British people think about death, according to a new poll commissioned by think- tank Theos.
The death of Jade Goody has been "helpful" in making people think about the end of their own lives, according to a new poll.
Nearly half of women, 49pc, and a third of men, 33pc, said the publicity surrounding the TV reality star's death from cancer earlier this year had helped people think about death.
The findings from a poll of 1,018 adults in Britain commissioned for the public think-tank Theos also showed half the population fears the process of dying.
The survey conducted last month showed 20pc admit to fearing both the way they will die and death itself with 30pc saying they fear the way they will die but not death itself.
Funeral
More than a third of people, or 37pc, said they would like a Christian funeral with this proportion highest, at 53pc, among the over-65 age group.
This figure fell to only one in five, or 20pc, in the 18 to 24-year-old age group.
The study found 42pc of people aged 65 and over said their religious faith helps them to deal with the death of a loved one and prepare for their own death compared with only 23pc of 18-24 year olds.
Two thirds, or 66pc, of people have seen a dead body, the research found.
A majority, or 60pc, backed making euthanasia legal with 59pc agreeing that more public money should be given to enable people to die where they choose and as painlessly as possible.
Theos director Paul Woolley said: "Different attitudes about death between age groups are striking. The fact that we fear dying suggests we need to discuss it more.
"The proportion of people fearing death in society could be explained by the breakdown of an overarching religious narrative in the culture.
"It might also have something to do with the lack of experience that people have in dealing with death."
- Martha Linden
