Latest news with #Samaritans
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Suicide prevention baton made me feel less alone'
A woman who lost her husband to suicide has said carrying a symbolic baton representing mental wellbeing helped her to feel less isolated. Samantha Southern, from Blackpool, who took part in the Baton of Hope tour in 2023, said it was the first time in years she had not felt alone and the event had brought her "connection". Organised by the suicide prevention charity, bereaved families are preparing to carry the baton through 20 locations in the UK again in a bid to challenge stigma and campaign for practical change. The 2025 tour begins in Blackpool in September. The baton is carried like an Olympic torch, passed from person to person, being held by 100 local people who each have a direct connection to suicide. Baton-bearers will walk through Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. They will pass local services that can offer support for mental and physical health. They will then tour the country, including visiting Leeds, London, Bournemouth and Jersey. Mike McCarthy, co-founder of The Baton Of Hope, said: "The idea is that people who have been bereaved by suicide or survived a suicide attempt find some comfort by being involved." Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK, according to the Samaritans. Mr McCarthy said he believed a change in strategy was needed. "Suicide is preventable, he said. "Whatever we have been doing over the last twenty years hasn't worked." He said he was motivated to start the charity after his son Ross took his own life. "He wrote a long goodbye letter and one of the things that he said in that letter was please fight for mental health, the support is just not there," he said. "If he could look down and see what we are trying to do in his name, and the name of all of the people we have lost to suicide, I'm sure he would think 'I'm proud of what you are trying to do'." The campaign is being supported by the Blackpool-based Empowerment Charity, where Ms Southern is the Solace Suicide Prevention and Bereavement Manager. Her husband Glen died in 2020 and she walked with the baton during the Baton of Hope tour in 2023. "It was the first time in two-to-three years that I hadn't felt as alone," she said. "Being with a community of people who just understood and got me. I think it brings connection." Blackpool Councillor Jo Farrell, said: "It is an honour for Blackpool to host the launch of the Baton of Hope 2025 tour. "This powerful movement shines a vital light on suicide awareness and reminds us that behind every statistic is a real person." The 2025 tour sets off from the Village Hotel in Blackpool on Monday 1 September at 08.00 BST. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Suicide prevention tour to return for second year Suicide baton relay participant wants to show hope Suicide baton relay to inspire 'open conversations'
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Blackpool: 'Carrying Baton of Hope made me feel less alone'
A woman who lost her husband to suicide has said carrying a symbolic baton representing mental wellbeing helped her to feel less isolated. Samantha Southern, from Blackpool, who took part in the Baton of Hope tour in 2023, said it was the first time in years she had not felt alone and the event had brought her "connection". Organised by the suicide prevention charity, bereaved families are preparing to carry the baton through 20 locations in the UK again in a bid to challenge stigma and campaign for practical 2025 tour begins in Blackpool in September. The baton is carried like an Olympic torch, passed from person to person, being held by 100 local people who each have a direct connection to suicide. Baton-bearers will walk through Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. They will pass local services that can offer support for mental and physical will then tour the country, including visiting Leeds, London, Bournemouth and McCarthy, co-founder of The Baton Of Hope, said: "The idea is that people who have been bereaved by suicide or survived a suicide attempt find some comfort by being involved." Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK, according to the McCarthy said he believed a change in strategy was needed."Suicide is preventable, he said. "Whatever we have been doing over the last twenty years hasn't worked."He said he was motivated to start the charity after his son Ross took his own life. "He wrote a long goodbye letter and one of the things that he said in that letter was please fight for mental health, the support is just not there," he said."If he could look down and see what we are trying to do in his name, and the name of all of the people we have lost to suicide, I'm sure he would think 'I'm proud of what you are trying to do'." The campaign is being supported by the Blackpool-based Empowerment Charity, where Ms Southern is the Solace Suicide Prevention and Bereavement husband Glen died in 2020 and she walked with the baton during the Baton of Hope tour in 2023."It was the first time in two-to-three years that I hadn't felt as alone," she said. "Being with a community of people who just understood and got me. I think it brings connection."Blackpool Councillor Jo Farrell, said: "It is an honour for Blackpool to host the launch of the Baton of Hope 2025 tour. "This powerful movement shines a vital light on suicide awareness and reminds us that behind every statistic is a real person."The 2025 tour sets off from the Village Hotel in Blackpool on Monday 1 September at 08.00 BST. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Advertiser
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Locals leap into action as car bursts into flames at servo
It was 7.30 in the morning when one of Meg Byrne's worst nightmares came true. "I have two nightmares: one that there's a fire at the service station, and two, I get robbed," she said. "They have always been my worst fears since I started working here." On June 18, the former nurse was behind the counter in the Mobil service station in Bodalla on the NSW south coast when a black BMW pulled up next to the bowsers. "I had the delivery fella in, and we were yakking, and he was putting his stuff away," Meg said. "The lady in the BMW came in and paid, and she walked to go out the door, and she went, my car's all smoky." The delivery driver, Ross Fredin from SCB Distributors Moruya, went outside to investigate. "Next thing, he came back in and said Meg, press that bloody stop button now!" she said. After shutting off the flow of petrol to the pumps, Meg called triple-zero and raced around to grab the fire extinguishers. At this point, Noel Bate from Forestry Corporation arrived and, alongside Ross, began hosing down the burning car with the extinguishers. With the volunteers using the accessible extinguishers inside the shop, Meg decided to access the two spares stored near the pumps. "They're in cabinets and you have to break the glass to get the key to unlock it," she said. "At my age, I didn't know I could kung fu kick to break the glass to get the ones from the outside." While Ross and Noel were spraying the burning BMW, Scott Watson pulled into the driveway, emerged from his car with a one-litre extinguisher, and mucked in. When two trucks from the fire department arrived, they set to work on dousing the car. "They couldn't open the bonnet while it was on fire, so they were putting the extinguishers down in between the windscreen and the bonnet," Meg said. "They had to just make sure that the motor got cold enough that it didn't reignite." All this time, despite a visibly burning car, motorists continued to pull into the Mobil to try to refuel. "They kept coming in the driveway and I had to stop them," she said. "You know, you can't see the servo for smoke, but they still decide they'll come in and get fuel." Meg told the Bay Post she was immensely grateful for the heroism of the three Samaritans who didn't hesitate to put themselves at risk. "Without those three fellas, we would not have got that fire out," said Meg. "We'd be in that paddock." Once the situation was under control, and Meg had finished her shift, she went home to Kianga and soothed her nerves with a cleansing ale or two. "And I enjoyed every bloody mouthful." It was 7.30 in the morning when one of Meg Byrne's worst nightmares came true. "I have two nightmares: one that there's a fire at the service station, and two, I get robbed," she said. "They have always been my worst fears since I started working here." On June 18, the former nurse was behind the counter in the Mobil service station in Bodalla on the NSW south coast when a black BMW pulled up next to the bowsers. "I had the delivery fella in, and we were yakking, and he was putting his stuff away," Meg said. "The lady in the BMW came in and paid, and she walked to go out the door, and she went, my car's all smoky." The delivery driver, Ross Fredin from SCB Distributors Moruya, went outside to investigate. "Next thing, he came back in and said Meg, press that bloody stop button now!" she said. After shutting off the flow of petrol to the pumps, Meg called triple-zero and raced around to grab the fire extinguishers. At this point, Noel Bate from Forestry Corporation arrived and, alongside Ross, began hosing down the burning car with the extinguishers. With the volunteers using the accessible extinguishers inside the shop, Meg decided to access the two spares stored near the pumps. "They're in cabinets and you have to break the glass to get the key to unlock it," she said. "At my age, I didn't know I could kung fu kick to break the glass to get the ones from the outside." While Ross and Noel were spraying the burning BMW, Scott Watson pulled into the driveway, emerged from his car with a one-litre extinguisher, and mucked in. When two trucks from the fire department arrived, they set to work on dousing the car. "They couldn't open the bonnet while it was on fire, so they were putting the extinguishers down in between the windscreen and the bonnet," Meg said. "They had to just make sure that the motor got cold enough that it didn't reignite." All this time, despite a visibly burning car, motorists continued to pull into the Mobil to try to refuel. "They kept coming in the driveway and I had to stop them," she said. "You know, you can't see the servo for smoke, but they still decide they'll come in and get fuel." Meg told the Bay Post she was immensely grateful for the heroism of the three Samaritans who didn't hesitate to put themselves at risk. "Without those three fellas, we would not have got that fire out," said Meg. "We'd be in that paddock." Once the situation was under control, and Meg had finished her shift, she went home to Kianga and soothed her nerves with a cleansing ale or two. "And I enjoyed every bloody mouthful." It was 7.30 in the morning when one of Meg Byrne's worst nightmares came true. "I have two nightmares: one that there's a fire at the service station, and two, I get robbed," she said. "They have always been my worst fears since I started working here." On June 18, the former nurse was behind the counter in the Mobil service station in Bodalla on the NSW south coast when a black BMW pulled up next to the bowsers. "I had the delivery fella in, and we were yakking, and he was putting his stuff away," Meg said. "The lady in the BMW came in and paid, and she walked to go out the door, and she went, my car's all smoky." The delivery driver, Ross Fredin from SCB Distributors Moruya, went outside to investigate. "Next thing, he came back in and said Meg, press that bloody stop button now!" she said. After shutting off the flow of petrol to the pumps, Meg called triple-zero and raced around to grab the fire extinguishers. At this point, Noel Bate from Forestry Corporation arrived and, alongside Ross, began hosing down the burning car with the extinguishers. With the volunteers using the accessible extinguishers inside the shop, Meg decided to access the two spares stored near the pumps. "They're in cabinets and you have to break the glass to get the key to unlock it," she said. "At my age, I didn't know I could kung fu kick to break the glass to get the ones from the outside." While Ross and Noel were spraying the burning BMW, Scott Watson pulled into the driveway, emerged from his car with a one-litre extinguisher, and mucked in. When two trucks from the fire department arrived, they set to work on dousing the car. "They couldn't open the bonnet while it was on fire, so they were putting the extinguishers down in between the windscreen and the bonnet," Meg said. "They had to just make sure that the motor got cold enough that it didn't reignite." All this time, despite a visibly burning car, motorists continued to pull into the Mobil to try to refuel. "They kept coming in the driveway and I had to stop them," she said. "You know, you can't see the servo for smoke, but they still decide they'll come in and get fuel." Meg told the Bay Post she was immensely grateful for the heroism of the three Samaritans who didn't hesitate to put themselves at risk. "Without those three fellas, we would not have got that fire out," said Meg. "We'd be in that paddock." Once the situation was under control, and Meg had finished her shift, she went home to Kianga and soothed her nerves with a cleansing ale or two. "And I enjoyed every bloody mouthful." It was 7.30 in the morning when one of Meg Byrne's worst nightmares came true. "I have two nightmares: one that there's a fire at the service station, and two, I get robbed," she said. "They have always been my worst fears since I started working here." On June 18, the former nurse was behind the counter in the Mobil service station in Bodalla on the NSW south coast when a black BMW pulled up next to the bowsers. "I had the delivery fella in, and we were yakking, and he was putting his stuff away," Meg said. "The lady in the BMW came in and paid, and she walked to go out the door, and she went, my car's all smoky." The delivery driver, Ross Fredin from SCB Distributors Moruya, went outside to investigate. "Next thing, he came back in and said Meg, press that bloody stop button now!" she said. After shutting off the flow of petrol to the pumps, Meg called triple-zero and raced around to grab the fire extinguishers. At this point, Noel Bate from Forestry Corporation arrived and, alongside Ross, began hosing down the burning car with the extinguishers. With the volunteers using the accessible extinguishers inside the shop, Meg decided to access the two spares stored near the pumps. "They're in cabinets and you have to break the glass to get the key to unlock it," she said. "At my age, I didn't know I could kung fu kick to break the glass to get the ones from the outside." While Ross and Noel were spraying the burning BMW, Scott Watson pulled into the driveway, emerged from his car with a one-litre extinguisher, and mucked in. When two trucks from the fire department arrived, they set to work on dousing the car. "They couldn't open the bonnet while it was on fire, so they were putting the extinguishers down in between the windscreen and the bonnet," Meg said. "They had to just make sure that the motor got cold enough that it didn't reignite." All this time, despite a visibly burning car, motorists continued to pull into the Mobil to try to refuel. "They kept coming in the driveway and I had to stop them," she said. "You know, you can't see the servo for smoke, but they still decide they'll come in and get fuel." Meg told the Bay Post she was immensely grateful for the heroism of the three Samaritans who didn't hesitate to put themselves at risk. "Without those three fellas, we would not have got that fire out," said Meg. "We'd be in that paddock." Once the situation was under control, and Meg had finished her shift, she went home to Kianga and soothed her nerves with a cleansing ale or two. "And I enjoyed every bloody mouthful."
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Young dad's heartbreaking final warning revealed before he was found dead by stepfather after taking his own life
A YOUNG dad sent his friends a heartbreaking final warning before he took his own life, an inquest heard. Corey French, 19, was discovered dead by his stepfather outside his home in Swansea on Christmas Eve. Advertisement 3 Corey French was discovered dead by his stepdad Credit: WNS The inquest was told Corey, who had a three-month-old son, was fighting a secret battle with addiction issues including gambling . Corey had told his GP he had been misusing alcohol, cocaine and cannabis before his death. In a letter found after his death, he apologised for "having to go out like this". Corey said: "I can't do it anymore. I can't bare pain I'm going through. Don't do drugs, that's what has got me." Advertisement Read more news The inquest heard Corey was a popular and talented young footballer who had been described by former teachers as a "bright boy who loved school sports and art". He was said to love his son and would "regularly show him off" to family members. Corey had taken on a job where he would work away from home during the week, which he told a family member he struggled with. But he had not indicated to friends, family or his girlfriend that he intended to harm himself. Advertisement Most read in The Sun On the evening he died, Corey had gone out to meet friends for a few drinks to celebrate Christmas before being taken home by his girlfriend. His stepdad John later discovered the young dad dead outside the family home, the court heard. Senior coroner Aled Gruffydd returned a conclusion of suicide. 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… If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: CALM, Heads Together, HUMEN Mind, Papyrus, Samaritans, Corey enjoyed football and played for West End FC before having a stint at Treboeth. Advertisement He attended Gower College to study plumbing, before finding work with a local builder. Corey later got a job with Swansea Council as a van driver. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123. 3 Corey had warned his friends not to do drugs Credit: WNS Advertisement 3 The dad's death was recorded as suicide Credit: WNS
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Influencer, 27, found dead after chilling Facebook post calling for 'help'
Zaria Khadejah Carr, 27, was brutally stabbed to death at a property in Georgia, US - her husband, Shamarcus Jameal Carr, took his own life after police discovered he was behind it An influencer who was killed by her husband took to social media as a cry for help and said she had fears for her freedom shortly before her death. Zaria Khadejah Carr, 27, was discovered lifeless after she was stabbed to death at a property in Twin city, Georgia, US. Her partner, Shamarcus Jameal Carr, went on the run and attempted to flee police. But when they caught up with him, he took his own life with a firearm. Now, it has been revealed there were warning signs in the lead up to their deaths, with Zaria writing an alarming Facebook post on June 14. She said: "I really don't know what to do... but I need help before I lose my life or freedom! My kids need me!" Shamarcus, who called himself "Thè Frenchman" on Facebook, had earlier broadcasted his hate towards his wife. He filmed their conversation on a livestream and said: "I swear you'll die," to which Zaria responded, "Damn, I gotta die about that?" It is understood that shortly after that conversation Shamarcus ended Zaria's life. In another video, Shamarcus confesses: "I've been cheating. F***ing off, doing my thing. So she get pregnant and I f**k around and cheat while she was pregnant." He accused Zaria of infidelity as evidenced in one video where she repeatedly attempted to dispute his claims. Captured on tape, he is heard declaring: "This the type of b***h that get beat, long story short," before seizing a knife and demanding she exits his live stream. Zaria's voice raises with concern as she asks: "What, you about to stab me?" His threat intensifies: "If I get off this live, you ain't gonna make it out the door." The investigation into Shamarcus' death is being conducted by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, with the GBI's Medical Examiner's Office slated to perform an autopsy on Zaria. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the findings will be presented to the Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office. For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@ visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
