The end of the taboo around death: towards a new culture of mourning

The taboo of death: a modern Western legacy

At the beginning of the 20th century, death was still part of everyday family life. People died at home, surrounded by their loved ones. Children attended funeral wakes. Rituals were passed down from generation to generation.

Then everything changed. The medicalisation of end-of-life care shifted deaths to hospitals and care facilities. Death became a technical event, managed by professionals. Families gradually lost direct contact with this reality.

This taboo of death became established in our modern Western society. Talking about death became uncomfortable, even inappropriate. Rituals became standardised, sometimes emptied of their meaning. Mourning became privatised, making the experience more solitary.

This evolution created an artificial distance from a stage that is nonetheless natural in existence. Discover how funeral rites have evolved throughout history.

The signs of a cultural evolution

In recent years, mentalities have been changing. A discreet but real movement is emerging to break the silence around death.

Death cafés are multiplying in Europe and North America. These informal gatherings allow people to discuss death freely over coffee. Without taboo, without judgement.

Podcasts and documentaries on mourning are enjoying growing success. Thanatologists share their expertise on social media. Mainstream literature now addresses the subject with frankness and sensitivity.

These new mentalities particularly affect younger generations. They seek authenticity and refuse unspoken truths. They want to understand, prepare themselves, and support their loved ones with lucidity.

This evolution of the taboo around death reflects a deep need for reappropriation. People want to regain control over a subject that has been monopolised by institutions for too long.

Social media and the digitalisation of mourning

Digital platforms play a major role in this liberation of speech. Instagram, Facebook and TikTok host moving testimonies about mourning. Thousands of people share their experiences, creating spontaneous support communities.

Digital memorial pages allow the memory of the deceased to be kept alive. Accessible 24/7, they offer a modern and shareable space for remembrance. Loved ones can add photos, anecdotes, messages.

This digital death and communication does not replace traditional rituals. It complements and enriches them. It responds to the needs of a mobile and connected society.

Platforms like Wolky illustrate this evolution. They offer respectful tools for publishing obituaries and creating memorial spaces. Simple, transparent, accessible. An approach that corresponds to contemporary expectations.

Talking about death to children: a long-avoided necessity

For decades, the rule was clear: protect children by keeping them away from death. Don't traumatise them. Preserve their innocence.

Result? Adults unable to manage their grief. Unexpressed anxieties that resurface later. Incomprehension in the face of the sudden disappearance of a loved one.

Education about death begins at a very young age. With appropriate words, without morbid details, but with honesty. Explaining that death is part of life. That it's normal to be sad. That emotions are legitimate.

Psychologists recommend including children in funeral rituals, according to their age and willingness. Allowing them to say goodbye. To ask questions. To express their grief.

To explore this delicate subject further, consult the most frequently asked questions about death and their appropriate answers.

The psychological benefits of open dialogue

Talking about death does not increase anxiety. On the contrary, studies show that open dialogue reduces irrational fears and existential anxiety.

Anticipating and preparing for one's own death or that of a loved one allows informed decisions to be made. Writing advance directives. Expressing one's wishes. Organising one's affairs.

This preparation brings a form of serenity. It avoids family conflicts and decisions made in emotional urgency. It respects the wishes of the deceased.

Modern therapeutic approaches integrate this dimension. Acceptance and commitment therapy encourages recognition of the finitude of existence. Palliative care values conversations about end of life.

Why talking about death becomes necessary? Because silence creates more suffering than truth. Because emotional preparation facilitates mourning. Because authenticity liberates.

The role of the media in normalising the subject

Traditional and digital media are gradually transforming the treatment of death. Gone are the days when death was relegated to obituary pages.

Series like Six Feet Under or After Life directly address mourning and mortality. Documentaries explore alternative funeral practices. Radio programmes give voice to the bereaved.

This mediated social dialogue contributes to destigmatising the subject. It shows the diversity of mourning experiences. It normalises the expression of emotions related to loss.

Journalists bear an important responsibility. Treating death with respect and nuance, without sensationalism or voyeurism. Giving space to authentic testimonies. Informing about available resources.

This evolution reflects how society talks about death today: with more frankness, less excessive modesty, and a desire to serve the public rather than artificially protect it.

Education about death: towards school integration?

Some pioneering countries are experimenting with the integration of education about death into school curricula. An approach that sparks debates and hopes.

In the United Kingdom, pilot workshops teach pupils the basics of mourning and loss. In Australia, modules address death in personal development courses. These initiatives remain marginal but promising.

Teachers receive specific training to address these sensitive subjects. They learn to create a safe space for discussion. To answer difficult questions. To identify pupils in difficulty.

The objectives? Develop emotional intelligence. Prepare young people for inevitable trials. Reduce the isolation of bereaved children. Create a more empathetic school culture.

In Switzerland, these initiatives remain rare. But interest is growing among education and mental health professionals. The road is still long, but the direction seems clear.

Different cultural approaches as sources of inspiration

Not all societies have made death a taboo. Some cultures of mourning maintain a peaceful and even joyful relationship with mortality.

In Mexico, Día de los Muertos celebrates the deceased with colours, music and offerings. Death is perceived as a continuation of life, not as a definitive rupture. Families gather to honour their ancestors in a festive atmosphere.

Asian Buddhist traditions integrate death into a cyclical vision of existence. Rituals are elaborate but natural, an integral part of community life.

In Africa, many cultures practise collective mourning that strengthens social bonds. The entire community accompanies the family, sharing grief and responsibilities.

These approaches teach us that there are other ways of living with death. Discover how different cultures perceive death and explore inspiring mourning rituals around the world.

Towards a new culture of mourning in Switzerland

Switzerland is not immune to this evolution in mentalities. Local initiatives are emerging to transform our relationship with death and mourning.

Associations offer discussion groups. Thanatologists provide personalised support. Alternative secular ceremonies are developing for those who do not identify with traditional rituals.

Funeral services are also evolving. Transparency is becoming a requirement. Families want to understand costs, options, processes. They refuse opacity and excessive prices.

This new culture of mourning values accessibility and simplicity. Digital platforms make it possible to publish an obituary quickly, at a fixed and transparent price of 180 CHF, far from the 800-2,000 CHF charged by traditional press.

These new mentalities reflect a need to regain control. To honour the deceased with dignity, without excessive complexity or prohibitive costs.

The challenges that persist

Despite these encouraging advances, obstacles remain. Not all generations are evolving at the same pace in the face of the taboo of death.

Elderly people, educated in silence and modesty, sometimes struggle to express their emotions or wishes. The weight of social conventions remains strong in certain circles.

In the professional world, mourning remains largely invisible. Leave is short, the pressure to return quickly is strong. Few companies offer appropriate psychological support.

Inequalities in access to support resources persist. Depending on regions, incomes, social networks, mourning support varies considerably.

The path towards a society fully reconciled with death is still long. But every conversation, every initiative, every shared testimony contributes to this necessary cultural transformation.

The taboo around death is finally beginning to crack. Social media, the media and educational initiatives are gradually paving the way for a healthier and more authentic culture of mourning. Talking about death to children, sharing one's grief online, drawing inspiration from the traditions of other cultures: so many signs that our Western society is relearning to tame this universal passage.

This evolution brings concrete psychological benefits: less anxiety, better emotional preparation, better-lived mourning. Yet challenges persist. The path towards complete normalisation of dialogue about death remains long, but every conversation counts.

Wolky participates in this transformation by offering digital tools that facilitate tribute and remembrance. Publishing an obituary online becomes a simple, accessible and dignified gesture, allowing families to create a memorial page and share the memory of their loved ones with kindness, without taboo or judgement.