From grief to call: This is how young people become undertaker in Langenhagen

From grief to call: This is how young people become undertaker in Langenhagen

Langenhagen, Deutschland - young people are increasingly opting for the profession of undertaker. Nicole Schmidt-Döring, funeral master at the Institute Richard Eggers in Langenhagen/Isernhagen, is an example of such a decision that is shaped by personal fates. The loss of her daughter in the 40th week of pregnancy led her to step into the footsteps of the undertaker. During this difficult phase, she received a stop from an undertaker, which inspired her to take this profession herself. "The emotional burden we experience requires a certain distance in order not to take everything home," she says.

After graduation, Schmidt-Döring went through several internships in funeral system in order to get a comprehensive picture of the requirements and work. Here she came across the diverse facets of the profession, from the physical preparation of the deceased to extensive examination of medical aspects, psychology and manual skills. Despite the emotional challenges, she is enthusiastic about the job because he offers her creative development opportunities and can help the bereaved.

training and requirements

The training as a funeral specialist is comprehensive and takes place according to recognized standards in the craft. Since 2001, the specialist publisher of the German funeral industry has been planning, organizing and carrying out further training. The teaching content is tailored to create a uniform job profile and to keep the quality of training and further education high. Training centers such as Theo-Remmertz Akademie e. V. and the Federal Education Center in Münnerstadt offer important courses to convey the necessary knowledge to the new specialists.

However, many trainees report challenges. Schmidt-Döring observes that many cancel the vocational school after half a year if they have not dealt intensively with the requirements of the profession. It is important to her that the trainees learn to incorporate personal details into the funeral planning and to recognize the importance of listening.

emotional and psychological stress

The fact that undertaker often comes into contact with death brings mental stress. A comprehensive examination of the BG Verkehr dealt with the mental health problems that the employees experienced by confronting death. 644 employees and entrepreneurs were interviewed and the results show a complex reality. While many of the respondents consider the working conditions as varied and the support of colleagues as high, there are also considerable stress.

• 24/7 readiness required
• Difficulties in vacation planning
• high labor intensity and constant interruptions

Around 66 percent of those surveyed remembered at least one extremely stressful situation. In the case of special events, such as the death of children or nearby relatives, the emotional loads are particularly high. In addition, some participants show high values for burnout and psychosomatic diseases. A lack of structured support for coping with stressful situations is also considered problematic.

These factors present funeral specialists with major challenges. Nicole Schmidt-Döring and many of her colleagues endeavor to cope with this professional and emotional stress in order to support the bereaved in the best possible support in their witness. However, she also knows that the knowledge learned is not only of crucial importance for the profession, but also for personal health and that the balance between empathy and emotional distance must be learned.

For young people who choose this profession, it is crucial to deal with these aspects in detail and to prepare to work in one of the most challenging but also fulfilling professions. Nevertheless, the reward in the form of gratitude and support of the families always remains a motivating force.

For further information on training and the challenges in funeral system see Psychological stress at funerals .