article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
How COVID-19 challenges our notion of a good death
Erica Borgstrom, a medical anthropologist and lecturer at The Open University, explores why death from coronavirus is not the type of death we expect.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Making sense of sudden mass deaths
Sudden, brutal death; and so many deaths, at one time. What does it do to you to be one of the bereaved in such a traumatic event such as the 9/11 attacks or a pandemic like Covid-19?
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Coronavirus: Dealing with Death, Dying and Grief
The coronavirus pandemic has lead to many people across the globe facing bereavement and grief. We've pulled together some FREE resources to offer advice or comfort in these times.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
History & The Arts
The First World War: trauma and memory
In this free course, The First World War: trauma and memory, you will study the subject of physical and mental trauma, its treatments and its representation. You will focus not only on the trauma experienced by combatants but also the effects of the First World War on civilian populations.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Let’s not talk about dying: Five reasons why people avoid planning for their end-of-life care
Most people haven't heard of advance care plans or may avoid planning for end-of-life care. Dr Erica Borgstrom tells us why...
article icon
History & The Arts
The Death of Socrates
Why was Socrates killed? Learn the reasons for his death.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
History & The Arts
Heritage case studies: Scotland
The heritage traditions of Scotland are unique in comparison to the rest of Britain. This free course, Heritage case studies: Scotland, uses two case studies to demonstrate how heritage sites have helped to forge the Scottish national identity and history.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
An invisible group: Young people’s experiences of living with a loved one who is seriously ill
Potentially a million children and young people in the UK live with a parent or caregiver who has a longstanding illness. What's the impact on them and what help is available?
free course icon
level 2: intermediate icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Death and medicine: postponement and promise
This free course, Death and medicine: postponement and promise, helps you to explore the extent to which death and dying in western societies are medical events and what aspects of death and dying might be neglected as a consequence. The course covers the way that such things as medicine provide the context of the experiences associated with the...
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Freeing people caught between life and death
Terrible accidents can leave some patients locked-in: awake but unaware. Roger Highfield meets the people seeking ways to free them.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
The language used during end of life care matters
The language we use to talk about end of life care matters because it conveys the values we attribute to life and death says lecturer at The Open University, Dr Erica Borgstrom.
article icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Methods in Motion: Emotionally sensing knowledge
Dr Ruth Evans shows how an approach of ‘uncomfortable reflexivity’ in cross-cultural research can help to reveal the work of emotions.