One of the increasingly salient topics in the current medical practice is the subject of behavioral health and terminal patients. The more mental health is recognized and studied today, the more the ways to perceive grief, loss, and the psychological aspect of mortality are discussed. In this multi-faceted and often sentimentally heavy subject, Elreacy Dock has been an especially sensitive pioneer who is successfully trying to combine thanatology with mental health services.

It automatically dismisses the traditional model of grief counseling and offers the best of the modern behavioral health research/data solutions for those who are grieving. It is these ideas that she has recently been developing together with the launch of innovative educational materials, which, when brought to the public attention, has the potential of reshaping our perception of death and grief as a society. Today, we have the privilege to interview her and get more insights about her professional and personal journey.

1. You work at the intersection of thanatology and behavioral health. How do these fields complement each other, and what key insights have you gained from studying their relationship?

There is a fair amount of interconnectedness between thanatology and behavioral health, whether considering this in relation solely to mortality outcomes, quality of life for patients with terminal or life-limiting disease or looking more broadly at mental health outcomes and grief. Factors like the social determinants of health (SDOH) can apply to how people experience and navigate grief along with the mental health challenges that can emerge during the grief process. Just as socioeconomic status, health care access and quality, education, employment, and housing can contribute to health disparities, these factors can also cause inequities in grief and mental health support. People often think of behavioral health interventions in the context of treating medical conditions, but there are many people with mental health concerns who find benefit in behavioral health interventions as well, and it certainly has applications at the end-of-life or for those who are grieving.

2. You already see yourself developing new mini-courses for grief education. Concerning these resources, how do you adapt them for various types of loss and to examine culturally different approaches to mourning?

As a certified grief educator, I understand that there are a wide range of losses that we can experience within a lifetime. Most people think of death when they think of loss, but there are other losses that we grieve as well such as the loss of health, the loss of a relationship, the loss of cultural identity, or the loss of a dream or expectations as a few examples. In developing upcoming resources and courses, the ultimate goal is to provide material that resonates with those who are grieving or those who are looking to support others who are grieving. Coming from a multicultural family, I also understand the importance of cultural sensitivity and representation so I am working on content that explores the significance of cultural variations in mourning practices, funeral practices, rituals, traditions, and beliefs surrounding death and loss. It is impossible to achieve perfection in providing a comprehensive overview of all cultures since there are so many intricate aspects to take into consideration, but I aim to continue updating all of my materials as I continue my own experience as a lifelong learner. The end goal is to have grief education courses and materials that are valuable to all people of all backgrounds.

3. From your observations, what do you consider are the largest obstacles for individuals to develop mental health problems when encountering death, either on their own or of a relative?

There are a few considerations that stand out, in my opinion. Sudden or traumatic circumstances surrounding the death of a loved one, experiencing multiple losses within a short period of time, and having a history of prior mental health concerns can often reflect an increased likelihood. When people don’t have adequate support systems at home or in their community, it can limit their ability to effectively cope with stress such as grief or death. Sometimes there are societal and cultural norms surrounding grief which influence how people are able to express their grief, and this can also impact their mental well-being. Additionally, there are many people who realize that they need help and support in relation to grief or an anticipated loss, but there are barriers to care and lack of resources in their region.

4. Do you consider how technological advancements, especially in the death-tech industry, might influence grief support and mental health amid the yearly losses?

I think there are a lot of opportunities to improve grief support and mental health in the death-tech industry, particularly if we are willing to reimagine or redefine how we tackle some of the most common issues that impact the dying and grieving. For example, there are some hospices that are now using virtual reality and augmented reality to allow those who are close to death to experience wishes or goals on their bucket list, which I think is a beautiful and considerate concept. Some companies are developing therapy chatbots that can listen to mental health concerns, including concerns surrounding grief. There are also others that are envisioning a new way for people to memorialize and honor loved ones in a digital space. There is so much potential to consider, but ultimately, we also need to clearly define what roles and aspects of service should not be automated as well. In our endeavor to achieve operational efficiency and scale, we shouldn’t eliminate the core value or significance of our humanity.

5. How do you envision death education integrating into broader mental health and public health initiatives? What benefits could this integration bring to society's overall well-being?

Integrating death education with mental health and public health initiatives can help destigmatize conversations about death and help foster open dialogue surrounding mortality, grief, and bereavement. I believe it would have significant impact in regard to suicide prevention and postvention initiatives by raising awareness, emphasizing the need for integrated support services, and empowering communities with more empathetic and informed strategies. The integration of death education into mental health and public health initiatives would also improve societal preparedness for mass casualty incidents such as natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, war, terrorism, etc.

6. When all is said and done, what do you envision obtaining your objective of altering how society perceives death, dying, and mental health?

Achieving this objective of changing how society perceives death, dying, and mental health is a multifaceted endeavor. There are many components to it such as a reduction in stigma and isolation, improved decision-making surrounding end-of-life issues and mental health, greater advocacy and important policy changes, more community building, and fostering generational change. However, all of these are empowered by encouraging and nurturing a cultural shift that emphasizes compassion. It is easy to outline the infrastructure of the ideal outcome, but in order to get there, we must achieve a greater focus on the value of human connection, active listening, empathy, and helping those who are vulnerable. That is something that we are all capable of doing, regardless of background or specialty, and so this shift toward compassion ultimately starts with each of us.