When struggling with grief after the death of a loved one, people often feel isolated and unsupported. That’s why John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, has today supported a motion in the Scottish Parliament that highlights the support that national healthcare charity, Sue Ryder, provides for people who are bereaved. Coinciding with Death Awareness Week, MSPs from all parties are backing a motion that calls for people in Scotland to be more open about death and dying so that bereavement is a less isolating experience.

John Mason MSP said:

“Support by charities like Sue Ryder is vital for people who are struggling to come to terms with the death of a family member or someone they were close to. Their online community – where people go to for support from others in similar situations – is proving to be an invaluable tool for people who are feeling isolated. People who use it feel more able to cope and less alone so I would urge anyone who thinks they’d benefit to give it a try.”

Pamela Mackenzie, Sue Ryder’s Scotland Director, said:

“Originally designed for people approaching the end of life, our online community has evolved to become more of a support for people who have lost someone they care for. People who use the service are going through a wide range of experiences, many of which are extremely difficult, and the support offered by community members to each other is immense.”

John Mason MSP finished:

“There’s no doubt that our reluctance as a society to talk about death and dying impacts on people’s ability to cope when someone they love dies. That’s why it’s really important that we try to shake off this taboo and accept that the death of someone we’re close to is something that we will all experience. Only then will people be able to grieve more openly and not feel as isolated.”

You can find a link to the online Sue Ryder community here: sueryder.org/support

That the Parliament welcomes the figures released by the National Records of Scotland, which show Scotland’s population reaching a new record of 5,404,700; understands that this shows an increase of 31,700 over the year to June 2016; further understands that this increase is in large part down to migration, with 31,700 more people moving to Scotland rather than leaving; notes that migration from the rest of the UK was 5,900 higher than from overseas, however, 20,000 more people left Scotland to live in the rest of the UK when compared to those moving overseas, leading to a net gain of 22,900 from overseas and 8,800 from the rest of the UK; believes that these positive figures show that Scotland is a highly desirable country to live in, and considers that this highlights the need for Scotland to continue to be a welcoming outward looking country that is able to attract people here to live and work.

To ask the Scottish Government how schools can encourage young people to select subjects in a way that is not along traditional gender lines.