Latest news with #bereavement
Yahoo
15 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
15 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.
BBC News
15 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Telford couple's miscarriage guides baby memorial plan
A couple say they are creating a baby memorial garden after they suffered a miscarriage and found such a place did not exist for them to remember their loved Pickering and his partner Katie Stuart lost their baby in September when they started going to coffee mornings run by a bereavement charity, Love from, George, Mr Pickering said they realised a dedicated space for them to reflect did not exist around Dawley Bank, Telford."It really stuck in my mind that there isn't something like that in place already," he said. "Something which should be such a happy time and all of a sudden it turns out to be devastating and then you go through that loss, so I'm quite surprised there isn't something like this already."If this was already in place in September, myself and my partner would have definitely come here and used it."With the approval of Dawley Town Council, the couple and other volunteers have begun work on the garden in Jubilee Woods, Dawley Bank. They plan to include a metal tree at the centre of the space where each leaf will be a plaque dedicated to a family that has lost a Pickering and Ms Stuart are expecting again, with their baby due in a few weeks time, and Mr Pickering said doing this project had benefited them and others."It is something that has helped us - not just myself but the other couples as well who use the coffee mornings. It's given us something to focus on," he added. Celebrating positivity Mr Pickering is organising the creation of the garden with his family's charity, The Pickering Foundation, and said he wanted to create a space where parents could take their time to grieve."It's to give them a place to remember their loved ones," he said."Depending on what stage people have lost their baby, sometimes you can't have a normal place of remembrance so somewhere like this is for anyone that's suffered from pregnancy loss."The garden itself is set to be finished by the end of the year but the foundation is still collecting donations and welcoming volunteers who can lend a in the area have donated items which were raffled off to raise £2,600 for the project."There's a lot of negativity out there these days, it's just nice to see people coming together for such a fantastic cause and something that means so much to us," Mr Pickering said. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Thurrock MP wants law change over declaration of parentage
An MP wants to see a new law introduced to end the "traumatic legal battle" unmarried grieving mothers can face to secure both parents' names on their child's birth certificate. Currently, unmarried mothers whose partners die during their pregnancy must apply for a declaration of parentage through the courts, before their child's father can appear on the certificate. Jen Craft, Labour MP for Thurrock, said the law was not "reflective of the way society looks" and highlighted a "deeper inequality within the legal system". She said: "For a number of women every year, what should be an uncontroversial step in their journey as a parent becomes a protracted and traumatic legal battle." Registrars already have the powers to amend birth certificates, if they have the evidence to back up the changes. However, Ms Craft, says in some cases, women have had to go to the High Court to prove the person who died "was very much intended to be the child's parents". She said: "The fact the mother does not have a ring on her finger means there is no automatic recognition of paternity. "If an unmarried woman experiences the unimaginable tragedy of losing her partner during pregnancy, there is no provision for her to register them on the child's birth certificate."Unless both parents can be present, the registrar is deemed unable to verify the paternity of the father." 'Women just give up' Upon registering their child's birth, she said bereaved mothers end up leaving with a blank space on the certificate where their partner's name should be. She said: "It's so upsetting because you started planning for your family to grow... you're so excited and then this unimaginable event happens and it feels like a kick in the teeth because all you want to do is let your child know they did have another parent and they were important."Loads and loads of women just give up," she said. Working with bereavement charity, Widowed and Young (WAY) she said she wanted to introduce the bill after being contacted by a member of her constituency. The bill will be listed for its second reading debate in the House of Commons on 11 July. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Generous mum donates items to hospital in memory of baby son born 21 years ago
A MUM whose baby boy was born sleeping 21 years ago has donated items for bereaved parents to mark what would have been her son's milestone birthday. Stacey Holmes, of Mirehouse, Whitehaven, gave birth to Daniel David at the West Cumberland Hospital on June 15, 2004 and following her baby son's tragic death, helped create a bereavement room at the hospital. Stacey and her baby son, Daniel David, who was born sleeping 21 years ago (Image: Submitted) The 45-year-old has collected goods to help comfort other bereaved parents which she handed over to hospital staff on Monday, the day after Daniel would have turned 21. Items donated to the hospital included tea, coffee, candles, blankets, baby clothes and toiletries. Stacey Holmes and daughter Hannah hand over donations to staff at the West Cumberland Hospital's bereavement suite (Image: Submitted)Stacey said: 'It's a special time for any child. Had Daniel still been here, we would have made it so special. 21 years later, it doesn't upset me, if anything it gives me a great sense of pride. 'After the loss of Daniel, I was sitting in limbo. The hospital didn't know where to keep me. I was kept on the delivery suite for three days. Donated items that were handed over to West Cumberland Hospital to mark Daniel David's 21st birthday (Image: Submitted) 'I could hear screams of mums in labour, the cry of newborn babies. It was a terrible time. 'I just wanted to give comfort to other bereaved families. I've had some lovely comments from families. That just gave me overwhelming comfort, that I have done something positive for other people.' Stacey and her daughter, Hannah, marked Daniel's 21st birthday (Image: Submitted) Stacey went on to give birth to daughter Hannah, who is now 20, following the loss of Daniel. They both visited Daniel's grave on his birthday and left a beer, balloons and birthday cards for him. Stacey said: 'Hannah recently lost her own baby and has been the victim of domestic violence. It's been a very hard time again. Hannah at Daniel's grave on his 21st birthday (Image: Submitted) 'I'm so proud of her for everything she has become. I find it so inspirational that she is living in her big brother's legacy. 'I'm a believer in the psychic world and many mediums have said that Daniel is living on through Hannah. Stacey Holmes with her daughter, Hannah (Image: Submitted) 'Hannah is such a sassy chick. We are so full of humour towards each other. We have such a beautiful, close relationship.' A spokesperson for the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We are extremely grateful to Ms. Holmes for her generous donations and continued support of the bereavement services at West Cumberland Hospital. Stacey and daughter, Hannah, share a close bond (Image: Submitted) "Her contributions have made a profound difference to many individuals and families during some of the most challenging times in their lives. 'Our commitment to supporting bereaved families remains a number one priority through our dedicated bereavement service and the compassionate care of our specialist bereavement midwives.'
