#144 Communication Technology & Bereavement with James Norris

In this episode, released during National Grief Awareness Week, I catch up with James Norris about Communication Technology & Bereavement. Listen in to learn about valuable new resource and the different ways this can support people who are bereaved.

Key messages

• James shares technology’s role in bereavement, and National Grief Awareness Week.

• We explore work of the Digital Legacy Association and the My Wishes end-of-life planning platform.

• James talks through the new infographic created for National Grief Awareness Week. We talk about the ‘nine dimensions of wellbeing’ (with a new digital dimension), and application to grief.

• James clarifies the non-linear nature of grief, referencing traditional and modern grief theories.

• Research findings showing that few people make digital/social media wills, why this matters, and what practical steps can be taken.

• Practical advice for managing digital assets after death (e.g., backing up photos/videos, curating memories, respecting privacy) is discussed.

• Exploration of AI technologies within bereavement, including the ethical and emotional considerations.

• The two visual resources: ‘Whirlpool of Grief’ animation and ‘Growing Around Grief’ model are explained by James.

• Guidance on accessing and sharing the infographic (PDF with links, image for social media, and embeddable code for websites).

• In closing, we reflect on the importance of tech in end-of-life planning and how to share resources to support grieving communities.

Resource

• Communication Technologies & Being Bereaved Infographic

• Digital Legacy Association 

• My Wishes

• National Grief Awareness Week & The Good Grief Trust: https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/ngaw/

Bio

James is the founder of MyWishes and the Digital Legacy Association.  He also holds the post as the Digital Research Fellow at Michael Sobell Hospice (London) 

Over the last 13 years James has developed and explored the use of technology to help improve end of life communication, planning and care.

In 2015 he launched the Digital Legacy Association CIC at Hospice UK’s annual conference to support professionals and the general public in areas relating to digital assets planning and digital legacy. The Digital Legacy Association argues that ‘planning for death digitally should form a holistic approach to advance care planning’.

MyWishes takes both a public health approach and a digital first approach to advance care planning. It educates and empowers society to document their future health and wider wishes. Its content, structure and design has been developed to help introduce care planning to society at an early stage and normalise this behaviour by incorporating it alongside other better known tasks (will writing, funeral planning, bucket lists etc). MyWishes only works with the NHS, local councils and the charity sector. It is free for all to use. MyWishes has been ‘hyperlocalised’ to help support different regions’ unique, health ecosystems. The Wellbeing Hub for example, is only available for MyWishes users who live in the Hillingdon Borough of London. 

James continues to consult various governmental and non-governmental organisations across the globe in areas relating to death and the internet. He provides thought leadership in areas relating to death, bereavement, technology and the internet on TV, online, print and in scientific journals. Appearances and publications range from BBC Breakfast and the BBC’s Morning Live to the New Scientist and Vice magazine. James has also held the post as the Design Research Fellow at the Velindre Cancer Centre (Cardiff) for the last six years.