Next week [Monday 16th October 1-2pm] Sounddelivery Media will be hosting a lunchtime panel to showcase pioneering lived experience experts leading the debate around suicide prevention and the impact of bereavement. A subject which matters to all of us. The government recently published a new national strategy on suicide prevention and has pledged to reduce England’s suicide rate within two and a half years but what does that mean in practice? And what role do civil society organisations play in addressing it?
This hour-long online event, is the first in what we hope will be a series addressing the big issues facing our society, led by our spokesperson network. It promises to be an honest and thought-provoking discussion. Expect personal experiences of suicide bereavement and its impact, along with solutions for positive change.
This event is aimed at journalists and media professionals looking to hear untold stories from communities directly impacted by suicide. Funders, other influencers and like-minded members of the network are also invited to tune in, listen and learn.
The panellists are:
Alan Stuart – Co-founder of the Calzy Foundation. Alan set up the Calzy Foundation with his family after the loss of their son Cal who died by suicide in 2021 aged 23. The Calzy Foundation is campaigning for the UK government to provide a new national three-digit 24/7 helpline for mental health emergencies.
Anna Wardley – Founder and CEO of the Luna Foundation, which works to improve support for children after parental suicide. Anna lost her father to suicide at 9 years old.
Ellie Hatto – Founder of Beside Yourself, representing the experiences of those bereaved by suicide and tackling stigma. Ellie lost her 82-year-old dad to suicide 10 years ago.
Maggie Gordon-Walker – Founder of Mothers Uncovered, a Sussex peer-led organisation that supports women in matrescence (the transition to motherhood) with creative groups led by past participants. Campaigner for better postnatal care for mothers.
Sam Southern – Suicide Prevention Bereavement Coordinator at Empowerment Charity in Blackpool. Samantha lost her husband to suicide in 2020 and is committed to raising awareness, breaking the stigma, and assisting those affected by suicide.
Tickets to attend are free. Register here to attend this event
About the organiser
Sounddelivery Media is a charity with a vision of a more equitable society where people with lived experience are part of creating social change. We work to help get new voices in the media and in the wider public conversation. We connect journalists and communities with untold stories. We work to address representation and diversity of voice in the media, finding platforms for our networks and building long term trusted relationships with journalists. We tackle the barriers that prevent these experts from engaging with the media.
Our Spokesperson Network programme is a key part of our work. Since 2019, we have been running an annual training programme for grassroots leaders looking to become visible public speakers. We work alongside people with direct experience of social injustice and inequality to advocate for themselves and their communities publicly by providing training, support and mentoring, media meet ups and media opportunities.
Further reading and listening:
Anna Wardley: Gave a BBC Four Thought talk ‘After a Parent Dies by Suicide’ and recently blogged ‘It’s time to count children who lose a parent to suicide in early year’ .
Alan Stuart: Wrote for Metro UK on losing his son to suicide and why we need a 999 for mental health emergencies.
Ellie Hatto: was a guest on the Mentally Yours Podcast and wrote for Metro UK on the loss of her dad to suicide and how she’s supporting others.
Maggie Gordon-Walker wrote about the recent statistics on suicide amongst new mothers and why Mothers are too afraid to ask for help.
Sam Southern blogged on ‘Suicide Prevention: A Bereaved Heart’s Perspective’