Assisted Dying: Supporting people through their journeys and grief

Who should view this webinar recording?

Anyone who works in a professional care role or supports people through all forms of loss and grief. Our content is applicable to a wide variety of professions including counsellors, social workers, teachers, emergency response teams, medical, corrections, mental health, hospice, volunteers, caregivers and more.

Overview

The End of Life Choice Act 2019 (the Act) implementation on 7 November 2021 changed the landscape of end-of-life care in NZ. As of 31 March 2024, of the 1,847 assisted dying applications (AD), 738 people died using AD and around 870 people did not progress to an assisted death due to being found ineligible, losing capacity during the process, dying as a result of the underlying conditions or application being found to not comply with the Act. In addition, the emerging findings in NZ and international literature have demonstrated differences in families’ grief experiences in response to assisted dying due to a variety of factors. All of these indicate the need for support prior to and following an assisted death for the individuals and loved ones involved.

This webinar will explore ways of supporting the family members of a person choosing assisted dying and of the person who is considering this option for ending their life.

Key learning points

• Understand the roles and support needs of family members before and during the AD process, including dealing with anticipatory grief and additional stressors such as family conflict and societal stigma.
• Recognise the immediate needs and emotions of families after an AD death and explore effective therapy approaches.
• Information on preparatory grief and understanding patients’ mind frames towards dying, focusing on decision-making factors regarding AD.
• Understand the patient’s experience during the AD process, including the impacts of eligibility assessments and preparing for the event as well as addressing facilitators and barriers.
• Highlight the importance of professionals understanding patients’ experiences with AD in order to offer better support throughout their journey and reduce isolation.

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