Latest news with #Papyrus
Wales Online
a day ago
- Health
- Wales Online
'We know more precious young lives can and must be saved'
'We know more precious young lives can and must be saved' Three fathers who have endured the 'indescribable' loss of their daughters to suicide have been trekking for eight days to raise founds for a charity determined to save young lives Left to right: Sophie Airey, Beth Palmer, Emily Owen (Image: Papyrus ) Three fathers who lost their daughters to suicide have walked 130 miles around a Welsh island in their memory. Mike Palmer from north Wales, Andy Airey from Cumbria and Tim Owen from Norfolk spent eight days trekking the Anglesey coastal path to raise funds for the Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide charity, which has warned it might have to cut back on its Hopeline247 service, a helpline which is available through the night for children and young people experiencing suicidal thoughts. Mr Palmer, whose 17-year-old daughter Beth took her own life in 2020, said: 'In rural areas mental health services and suicide prevention support is in limited supply. That means in communities like the Hopeline247 may be the only thing that can help to keep young people safe from suicide, particularly in the darkest hours in the middle of the night when other services are not available to them.' Andy Airey, who lost his 29-year-old daughter Sophie to suicide in 2018, said: 'Hopeline247 is now under threat and, as dads who have suffered the indescribable loss of a child to suicide, we are determined to do what we can to maintain this life-saving service round-the-clock.' Tim Owen, Mike Palmer and Andy Airey finish their Anglesey coastal path walk Tim Owen's 19-year-old daughter Emily died by suicide in 2020. He said the Anglesey fundraiser — the fourth charity walk completed by the three dads — was "born from the belief that children and young people should not be alone with thoughts of suicide". Article continues below He added: "We know more precious young lives can and must be saved. Progress is being made but the fact is we hear of more tragic stories nearly every week. 'Smashing the stigma around mental health and suicide is our goal. With every step we'll remember our girls and this gives us the courage to keep going and make a difference.' The dads are confident they have reached their latest target of £30,000, having already raised around £1.5million for Papyrus with their earlier '3 Dads Walking' efforts, which saw them honoured with MBEs in the King's Birthday Honours List. In one fundraiser they walked 600 miles, passing the parliaments of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. Ged Flynn, the charity's chief executive, said funding is urgently needed to maintain the helpline round the clock. 'We'd like to say a huge thank you to Andy, Mike and Tim who didn't hesitate when they realised Papyrus was struggling financially," he added. "Like many charities, we have seen a significant decline in donations since the cost of living crisis started to impact on the voluntary income we receive. At the same time, we have seen an increase in demand for our professional services. 'Since our Hopeline247 service went round the clock in the summer of 2023, we have seen an 86% increase in the number of contacts we received via text and emails. Last year there was a 66% increase in those reaching out via our webchat service. We are doing everything we can to protect our services, but we need help to be able to do so.' The three dads, who all live in rural parts of the UK, also used their Anglesey trek to highlight how people living in remote areas can feel isolated. To donate to the PAPYRUS emergency appeal, go here. You can see more details about the 3 Dads Walking campaign here. Article continues below For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice, you can call Papyrus on 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email pat@
Scottish Sun
04-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
I said ‘I love you' to my daughter then lived every parent's nightmare – the text I received in Aldi destroyed my life
Kathleen Firth could never have imagined what would be found in the park that day MUM'S HELL I said 'I love you' to my daughter then lived every parent's nightmare – the text I received in Aldi destroyed my life AS SHE waved goodbye to her daughter, Kathleen Firth could never have imagined it would be the last time she would see her. Kathleen, 37, experienced "every parent's worst nightmare" in February 2023, just five days before her daughter Alyssa Morris's 14th birthday. 6 Kathleen Firth misses her daughter Alyssa Morris every day Credit: Supplied 6 She describes Alyssa (seen here as a child) as beautiful and funny Credit: Supplied 6 Kathleen says it was a 'perfect storm' of circumstances that lead to her death Credit: Supplied Alyssa, 13, was found unresponsive in Brungerley Park in Clitheroe, Lancashire, where she used to build dens with her brother Jenson, 14. She had taken her own life after months of relentless bullying, something that Kathleen believes should - and could - have been prevented. Kathleen first became aware of the devastating news as she popped to a local Aldi for a shop. She believes that social media, bullying and Covid lockdown, created "the perfect storm" of circumstances that lead to her daughter's death. The mum-of-four suspected that Alyssa may have been neurodiverse but was unable to receive a formal diagnosis - which Kathleen believes prevented Alyssa from getting the correct support. Alyssa's family - including her father Chris Morris, 36, and siblings Poppy, 11, Jenson, 14 and Daniella, 17- have been fundraising for Papyrus, a mental health charity for young people, Chester Hospital and the firefighters, to help cope with their grief and to keep Alyssa's memory alive. They hope by sharing their story, they can raise awareness of the dangers of social media and online bullying. Support worker Kathleen said: "Alyssa took a part of me with her when she died, and life hasn't been the same since. "As a family, we are still coming to terms with the loss. "It haunts me that her death could have been prevented, had we known what was really going on and if she'd had the correct support. My husband killed himself the day after our honeymoon - there were no signs & he sent Valentine's flowers months later "I knew she'd been struggling, but we had no idea how bad the bullying had become. "Thanks to phones and social media it intruded into her home life too." Self-harm from aged 11 Alyssa was described as a "funny, beautiful, very clever" young girl, who loved drawing, Hamilton the musical and had dreams of working with animals. An inquest heard that the teenager began displaying "social anxieties" and had self-harmed. Alyssa first experienced bullying in 2020, and Kathleen claims that the bullying and harassment continued mainly online but included a physical attack at a bus stop in July 2022, which was reported to the police. She wasn't really supposed to be using social media, they're not designed for children her age Kathleen Firth Kathleen said: "She'd started self-harming at 11, which was terrifying and left me feeling completely helpless. "I tried to speak to her about it, but it always led to arguments and she'd get very defensive. "Whenever I tried to seek medical help, she would get upset. "Alyssa wasn't comfortable discussing issues in front of people. 6 As a young child Alyssa loved drawing and had dreams of working with animals Credit: Supplied 6 It was severe bullying that lead Alyssa to take her own life Credit: Supplied "She became really isolated during covid, which didn't help her anxiety. "Covid separated her and the only form of communication she had was social media. "She wasn't really supposed to be using social media, they're not designed for children her age. "But we had to become more lenient because she couldn't go out and play during covid. I don't ever want to let her name die with her Kathleen Firth "We monitored her phone every day but she deleted things she didn't want us to see." On Sunday 12 February 2023, Kathleen was shopping in Aldi when she was alerted to an incident in Brungerley Park after her sister texted her to ask "if the kids were okay". She "rushed" home to check on her children, but Alyssa was missing. You're Not Alone EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign. The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives. Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: CALM, 0800 585 858 Heads Together, HUMEN Mind, 0300 123 3393 Papyrus, 0800 068 41 41 Samaritans, 116 123 Alyssa was found unresponsive in the park "just a few minutes away" from her family home in Clitheroe and passed away shortly after at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital. An inquest was held at Accrington Town Hall and Coroner Richard Taylor concluded that she had taken her own life. Kathleen blames social media platforms for "trivialising suicide" and believes that videos and content that she was exposed to "failed to make her understand the severity of her actions". Kathleen said: "I don't ever want to let her name die with her. "I want to keep her name alive. "I will always advocate for children's mental health. "It's two years since and it still doesn't feel real. "It doesn't feel like it's happened to me." If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
The Sun
04-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I said ‘I love you' to my daughter then lived every parent's nightmare – the text I received in Aldi destroyed my life
AS SHE waved goodbye to her daughter, Kathleen Firth could never have imagined it would be the last time she would see her. Kathleen, 37, experienced "every parent's worst nightmare" in February 2023, just five days before her daughter Alyssa Morris's 14th birthday. 6 6 Alyssa, 13, was found unresponsive in Brungerley Park in Clitheroe, Lancashire, where she used to build dens with her brother Jenson, 14. She had taken her own life after months of relentless bullying, something that Kathleen believes should - and could - have been prevented. Kathleen first became aware of the devastating news as she popped to a local Aldi for a shop. She believes that social media, bullying and Covid lockdown, created "the perfect storm" of circumstances that lead to her daughter's death. The mum-of-four suspected that Alyssa may have been neurodiverse but was unable to receive a formal diagnosis - which Kathleen believes prevented Alyssa from getting the correct support. Alyssa's family - including her father Chris Morris, 36, and siblings Poppy, 11, Jenson, 14 and Daniella, 17- have been fundraising for Papyrus, a mental health charity for young people, Chester Hospital and the firefighters, to help cope with their grief and to keep Alyssa's memory alive. They hope by sharing their story, they can raise awareness of the dangers of social media and online bullying. Support worker Kathleen said: "Alyssa took a part of me with her when she died, and life hasn't been the same since. "As a family, we are still coming to terms with the loss. "It haunts me that her death could have been prevented, had we known what was really going on and if she'd had the correct support. "I knew she'd been struggling, but we had no idea how bad the bullying had become. "Thanks to phones and social media it intruded into her home life too." Self-harm from aged 11 Alyssa was described as a "funny, beautiful, very clever" young girl, who loved drawing, Hamilton the musical and had dreams of working with animals. An inquest heard that the teenager began displaying "social anxieties" and had self-harmed. Alyssa first experienced bullying in 2020, and Kathleen claims that the bullying and harassment continued mainly online but included a physical attack at a bus stop in July 2022, which was reported to the police. Kathleen said: "She'd started self-harming at 11, which was terrifying and left me feeling completely helpless. "I tried to speak to her about it, but it always led to arguments and she'd get very defensive. "Whenever I tried to seek medical help, she would get upset. "Alyssa wasn't comfortable discussing issues in front of people. 6 "She became really isolated during covid, which didn't help her anxiety. "Covid separated her and the only form of communication she had was social media. "She wasn't really supposed to be using social media, they're not designed for children her age. "But we had to become more lenient because she couldn't go out and play during covid. "We monitored her phone every day but she deleted things she didn't want us to see." On Sunday 12 February 2023, Kathleen was shopping in Aldi when she was alerted to an incident in Brungerley Park after her sister texted her to ask "if the kids were okay". She "rushed" home to check on her children, but Alyssa was missing. You're Not Alone EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign. The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives. Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: Alyssa was found unresponsive in the park "just a few minutes away" from her family home in Clitheroe and passed away shortly after at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital. An inquest was held at Accrington Town Hall and Coroner Richard Taylor concluded that she had taken her own life. Kathleen blames social media platforms for "trivialising suicide" and believes that videos and content that she was exposed to "failed to make her understand the severity of her actions". Kathleen said: "I don't ever want to let her name die with her. "I want to keep her name alive. "I will always advocate for children's mental health. "It's two years since and it still doesn't feel real. "It doesn't feel like it's happened to me." If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123. 6
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Six take on charity bike ride in memory of friend
Six teenage boys are planning to ride from Telford to Liverpool in memory of a friend who took his own life. They all attended Haberdashers Adams in Newport, Shropshire, along with Max Turton, who died last August, aged 16. Their 100-mile (161 km) ride will start on Friday from AFC Telford United's stadium and finish at Anfield stadium, the home of Max's favourite club, Premier League champions Liverpool. Wes, Dillon, Ewan, Sonny, Arwinder and Ollie also plan to raise money for the suicide-prevention charity Papyrus. The boys, who now attend sixth form colleges in the region, plan to cycle 60 miles on Friday and then stay at a hotel in Northwich, before completing the remaining 40 miles on Saturday. Ollie said Max was a "joy to everybody around him" and who was dedicated "to making every single person that he knew smile". He said they spent "so many hours laughing together". Dillon described him as "a caring, hard-working, funny and most of all a truly loving person". The ride to Anfield was chosen because Max was "the biggest Liverpool fan going", Ollie said. They have already raised almost £4,000 for the cycle ride, and he said the charity, Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide, which has been supported by Max's parents, was "the perfect charity to donate to". He said the challenge would be tough physically but also very emotional, and he hoped they would find motivation from "knowing exactly why we're doing it and who we're doing it for". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Parents encourage talking about mental health 'I just want to feel ordinary' – Is the mental health system failing teens? Your Voice, Your Vote: Mental health crisis in young Suicide the leading cause of death for young Scots Papyrus
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Six take on charity bike ride in memory of friend
Six teenage boys are planning to ride from Telford to Liverpool in memory of a friend who took his own life. They all attended Haberdashers Adams in Newport, Shropshire, along with Max Turton, who died last August, aged 16. Their 100-mile (161 km) ride will start on Friday from AFC Telford United's stadium and finish at Anfield stadium, the home of Max's favourite club, Premier League champions Liverpool. Wes, Dillon, Ewan, Sonny, Arwinder and Ollie also plan to raise money for the suicide-prevention charity Papyrus. The boys, who now attend sixth form colleges in the region, plan to cycle 60 miles on Friday and then stay at a hotel in Northwich, before completing the remaining 40 miles on Saturday. Ollie said Max was a "joy to everybody around him" and who was dedicated "to making every single person that he knew smile". He said they spent "so many hours laughing together". Dillon described him as "a caring, hard-working, funny and most of all a truly loving person". The ride to Anfield was chosen because Max was "the biggest Liverpool fan going", Ollie said. They have already raised almost £4,000 for the cycle ride, and he said the charity, Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide, which has been supported by Max's parents, was "the perfect charity to donate to". He said the challenge would be tough physically but also very emotional, and he hoped they would find motivation from "knowing exactly why we're doing it and who we're doing it for". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Parents encourage talking about mental health 'I just want to feel ordinary' – Is the mental health system failing teens? Your Voice, Your Vote: Mental health crisis in young Suicide the leading cause of death for young Scots Papyrus
