Actor Riley Keough Trained To Become 'Death Midwife' After Her Brother's Tragic Demise

American model and actor Riley Keough revealed she has successfully trained to become a death doula (or 'death midwife'). Taking to Instagram, the 31-year-old detailed what the training taught her and how important it is to be "educated on conscious dying and death."

This comes after her brother Benjamin's tragic death by suicide at the age of 27 last year in July. Eight months later, Keough marked the end of her training in death midwifery.

Keough, prominent in Hollywood as the granddaughter of global icon Elvis Presley, writes on social media, "We are taught that its a morbid subject to talk about. Or were so afraid of it that we’re unable to talk about it... then of course it happens to us, and we are very ill prepared... I’m so grateful for this community and to be able to contribute what I can."

See Riley Keough's post below:  

Source: Riley Keough

Keough trained as a death doula with Sacred Crossings, which focuses on 'The Art of Death Midwifery Training.' In her social media note, she also thanked Olivia Bareham, founder of the organisation.

Who Is A Death Doula?

As per Sacred Crossings, a death midwife is someone who works as a "spiritual counsellor, end-of-life caregiver, home funeral guide and celebrant."

The purpose of a death doula is to be trained in offering guidance and comfort to someone who is on the verge of passing and their families dealing with grief so that death becomes a relatively peaceful, more acceptable process.

Riley Keough On Benjamin's Death

It is reported that Benjamin Keough shot himself in July 2020. He was one of four children of Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter and only child of Priscilla and Elvis Presley.

On her son's death, a representative told media Lisa was "completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated... She adored that boy. He was the love of her life."

Riley Keough, Lisa's oldest, often pays tributes to her "baby brother" on social media. "There are no words for you. Angel is the closest I could think of. Pure light. Baby brother. Best friend... I hope you give me strength to endure the giant hole you’ve left in my heart," she had written soon after his death last year.