The creation of hope
7th June 2023
Author EditorPosted on Categories Charity
How a symbol with royal connections is being used to promote suicide prevention in the workplace.
It began when two bereaved dads came together for support after each had lost a son to suicide. Mike McCarthy and Steve Phillip initially made contact on social media and when they met for a coffee discovered that they shared not only profound grief but also a passion to change the nation’s approach to suicide prevention.
Despite their trauma the two men came up with the idea of carrying an “Olympic torch” type symbol around the country in an attempt to smash the stigma surrounding suicide and promote positive change.
Suicide is the biggest killer of under-35s in the UK and the statistics have stagnated for more than fifteen years.
Mike, a former TV journalist and presenter, said: “Over a period of forty years I had covered a huge variety of stories and events including wars, terrorist atrocities, crime, politics etc. but I realised, belatedly, that the subject of suicide had never crossed my radar.
“I asked myself how it could be that one of society’s greatest catastrophes was hardly ever mentioned. Why was there such little parliamentary discussion? Where were the conversations? When we were talking about just about every other social issue in the classroom, how come so few people were addressing a subject that robs us of so much hope and potential?”
Between them, Mike and Steve began to enlist the support of a talented organising committee and then an army of volunteers from around the country. The initiative came to the attention of political strategist and mental health campaigner Alastair Campbell who introduced the men to goldsmiths and silversmiths to the late Queen Elizabeth II Thomas Lyte.
Immediately the company offered to design and create an exquisite and symbolic Baton powerful enough to galvanise the nation in support. The ‘Baton Of Hope’ was born.
In Summer, the Baton will be carried around twelve cities in 12 days…Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Brighton and London. The tour will begin on June 25 and end on July 6.. It will be the biggest suicide prevention initiative the UK has ever seen.
One of the charities organising committee members Jenny Rayner, who lost her daughter Lucy to suicide in 2012 said: “For too long the subject of suicide has been hidden and overlooked. In the silence stigma has grown and it’s time to change that. We are determined to create a healthy conversation and bring this largely ignored subject out of the shadows.”
Last minute planning for a massive programme of events nationwide is taking place headed by Ashley Redsell who has more than forty years experience in events organising. He has been guiding a team of project leads in each city. Each one of those is supported by hoards of volunteers.
Ashley explained: “One of the most important elements of the Tour is that the Baton will be carried through each of the twelve cities by people who have lost a loved one to suicide or have survived a suicide attempt. This is a huge logistical task which is unique so there was no obvious template to work on. This is being driven by determination, urgency and the invaluable support of wonderful people who have taken it upon themselves to lead a complex programme.”
“We believe that the Tour will give hundreds of people a special moment – the chance to honour their loved ones and reflect on the hope that we can give to others who face darkness.”
The theme of the event is, of course, Hope. Mike McCarthy said that, having spoken to hundreds of bereaved families, it was clear that the one thing that united each person who ended their life was the loss of Hope.
Acknowledging that, The Baton Of Hope is heavy with symbolism. A delicate lattice work at its centre depicts a community of people holding each other aloft. Inside is inscribed a quote from international human rights campaigner Desmond Tutu: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
The Tour is just one part of the charity’s activities. It is determined to bring about positive, practical change in the field of suicide prevention.
It has assembled a team of experts to put together a ‘Workplace Charter’ which was launched in Parliament on Wednesday, May 24, in an event sponsored by Dean Russell MP.
The charter provides guides and resources for employers to help deal with suicide prevention – from supporting a bereaved colleague to finding the right help for a member of staff who is feeling suicidal. The charity will invite all employers who are interested in signing up to the Charter to join them at a national suicide prevention conference in Sheffield on September 15.