By Dr. Anja Stöbener
Dr. Anja Stöbener addresses conversations with adolescents and young adults about a subject that is often treated as distant from their lives. A survey of 200 people aged 15 to 25 showed that most had encountered death in the previous five years, many feared their own dying and many supported forms of assisted dying while knowing little about palliative medicine.
Stöbener interprets this as evidence of both relevance and uncertainty. Young people often have questions and fears but rarely find a normal space to speak about them. Death and dying are more taboo than many subjects that were once considered difficult, even though dying is a phase of life just as much as puberty, partnership, work or family formation.
The article explains that media images, institutionalized dying and ideals of youth, control and success can create the impression that dying is only horror, dependency and loss of autonomy. Without knowledge of palliative care, young people may conclude that ending life quickly is the only way to avoid suffering.
Stöbener offers practical guidance for conversations: let young people speak and tell their stories; do not judge their opinions or fears; choose normal settings rather than overly staged atmospheres; and accompany thinking, learning and emotional processes patiently.
She stresses honesty, authenticity and boundaries. No one can answer every question alone; educators should seek expertise, gather questions, use age-appropriate material and allow enough time for reflection. The goal is not to push young people toward a predetermined opinion, but to take their questions seriously and open a space for knowledge, feeling and dialogue.
