ABSTRACT
The experience of death is a more common one for children and adolescents than popular culture would have us believe. This 'denial' and avoidance of death has implications for how Chinese cultures value life, and life-affirming values. Evidence is reviewed to show that involving children in a better understanding of the meaning of death through curriculum and classroom involvement is an essentially healthy activity. Knowing and understanding the full meaning of death also gives the young person a better understanding of the meaning of life, and should be an essential part of educational programmes for suicide prevention, which aim to counter the idea that death is an alternative to healthy and positive living.
