Christmas is a time for friends and family – but for anyone who has lost a friend or relative over the past 12 months, it can be an extremely difficult period too.
Christmas is a time for friends and family – but for anyone who has lost a friend or relative over the past 12 months, it can be an extremely difficult period too.
New research launched today by Norwich Union shows that the festive season is the one time of the year when deceased friends or family are missed the most.
Just over half (51 per cent) the adults questioned nationwide named Christmas as the time of year when they miss them most, with 20 per cent saying their birthday, 7 per cent anniversaries, and 4 per cent the summer time.
And women are the most likely to miss a friend or relative at Christmas – 56 per cent named Christmas as the time they miss them most, compared to 47 per cent of men.
The Norwich Union research also reveals:
- Women feel more at ease discussing death than men
- Death is seen as less of a taboo by the youngest (16-24) AND oldest (65+) than all other age groups, while religion is the biggest conversational taboo among 30-somethings
- Death is seen as the biggest taboo by a quarter (24 per cent) of Londoners - far more than anywhere else in Britain
- People in the North West are the most likely to openly discuss death – only 12 per cent of people asked described death as the biggest taboo, fewer than anywhere else
David Czerwinski, of Norwich Union, said: “Christmas is traditionally the one time of year when we gather with loved ones, so it’s natural that a deceased friend or relative is particularly missed at this time of the year.
“Our research suggests that two out of every three people in the UK has lost either a close family member or a friend in the last three years – yet as a nation we still find it extremely difficult to discuss death, and cope with bereavement.”
Earlier this year, Norwich Union announced it was supporting Cruse Bereavement Care, the UK’s largest and only national organisation that helps and supports the bereaved.
Norwich Union is donating Ł90,000 to Cruse, allowing the charity to recruit a full-time member of staff and train 10 volunteers to work on its helpline and respond to calls. Norwich Union will also give a further Ł10,000 in sponsorship to the charity’s publication ‘Cruse News’.
The survey also found that people are most likely to turn to family members after a bereavement, and that women are more likely to turn to girlfriends than men are to discuss it with their male counterparts. Just six per cent of those questioned would turn to ‘a religious leader’.
Asked what they needed most to help them through their bereavement, 46 per cent said ‘someone to talk to’ – while the joint second most popular answers were family and friends; counselling and support; and to be left alone.
Anne Viney, spokesperson for Cruse, added: “Cruse provides advice, counselling and information on practical matters for bereaved people entirely free of charge - last year over 107,000 people sought help and support from us.
“Cruse is only able to offer its services freely due to the generosity of individuals and grant-making bodies, and we’re delighted to receive the support of Norwich Union.
“The research findings demonstrate that people clearly find death a taboo subject, whether it’s discussing it with others or seeking help. Anyone who has suffered a bereavement and wants help can contact the Cruse helpline on 0870 167 1677.”
More information and advice on dealing with bereavement is available at www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk.
Press contact: Jane Wheeler, 020 7379 0304 (Monday Dec 30 - Tuesday Dec 31 only) or Jo Carr, 07776 137 141 / 020 8748 7330.
Notes to Editors
Norwich Union commissioned Taylor Nelson Sofres to carry out research among 1,010 adults nationwide, aged 16+, during August 2002.
Norwich Union – www.norwichunion.com - is the UK’s largest insurer, offering a comprehensive range of long-term savings and general insurance products.
News releases are available on the Aviva plc website at www.aviva.com, and a selection of images is available from the Norwich Union Newscast site at www.newscast.co.uk.
Cruse Bereavement Care is the UK’s largest and only national organisation that helps and supports anyone bereaved by death. Last year over 107,000 people sought help and support from Cruse.
Cruse provides advice, counselling and information on practical matters for bereaved people entirely free of charge. Cruse’s bereavement support is delivered through its national helpline and a network of over 6,500 highly committed volunteers working in the community, in 178 branches across the UK.
Cruse Bereavement Care,
126 Sheen Rd, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1UR
Tel: 020 8939 9530
Helpline: 0870 167 1677
E-mail: info@crusebereavementcare.org.uk
www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Charity Reg No 208078
Members of the General Insurance Standards Council
Members of the Aviva group