Founder of The Calzy Foundation - to campaign for increased and accessible peer-to-peer support for young adults suffering trauma or crisis in their mental health; to de-stigmatise the conversation in young people around mental health and to work towards reducing the suicide rates in young people
Alan currently works in senior management within Higher Education – however his background has predominantly focused around start-up businesses – ranging from complimentary health products to software development and digital media agency initiatives. In January 2021 – he lost his son Cal (23yrs old) to suicide. He and his family were devastated as they were very tight and close as a family of four. In his own words, ‘Cal is my best friend, he is my hero – he is also my son’. Soon after Cal’s passing he and his family launched The Calzy Foundation – to campaign for increased and accessible peer-to-peer support for young adults suffering trauma or crisis in their mental health; to de-stigmatise the conversation in young people around mental health and to work towards reducing the suicide rates in young people. They also campaign for the establishment of a distinct three-digit emergency mental health number – similar to 111. Alan is committed to encouraging more open; honest and transparent dialogue around mental health in young adults and especially in those who have been impacted by peer suicide.
‘There is much to do and progress regarding how we open and support conversations between us as a society with respect to mental health and suicide. The Sounddelivery Media programme provides the foundation to catalyse this and to ‘unmute’ where there is unease and discomfort around acknowledging and addressing the biggest cause of death in males under the age of 45.’
Alan Stuart was featured and interviewed in The Daily Express for an article was titled ‘Family calls for new emergency 999 number after son, 23, left home and never came back’ about campaigning for 24/7 mental health emergency helpline.
