Staging your own death: Inside Russia's curious therapy of simulated funerals

Inhabitants of Russia engage in practices that are rarely, if ever, seen in other countries. Participating in a mock funeral is one of these unconventional therapeutic strategies. This is not a spectacle; a video from one of these ceremonies was recently shared online.

The shared footage shows a woman in a pink dress stepping into a coffin. Her "body" is first transported on a bed beneath a white cover, before the actual ceremony begins. Mourners dressed in black, flickering candles, and a palpable atmosphere of sorrow and contemplation sets the scene.

The coffin is then sealed. Adjacent to it, a podium is set up from which mourners remember and mourn the "deceased". The footage concludes with the poignant lowering of the coffin on a platform.

Mock Funeral Therapy - you can book a session to simulate your own funeral. Centered on regaining mental equilibrium and discovering life's purpose, this unconventional therapy is gaining attention, as noted by Anna Łabuszewska, a Russia expert formerly with the Center for Eastern Studies.

However, indulging in such therapy in Russia could dent your wallet.According to an October report from the portal vibez.pl, it could cost as much as 3.5 million Rubles (~$39,000).

Among others, these simulated funerals are organized by Jekaterina Preobrazenskaja. The Russian woman offers two types: a virtual funeral and a fully immersive one. The therapy aims to help clients confront their fears and emerge as an entirely new person, leaving their fears "in their past life". The "deceased" spends approximately an hour inside the coffin.