“My wife took her own life last year. It was devastating to me. At one stage I found myself thinking about suicide. The Tomorrow Project supported me through this, they listened to my feelings and emotions and were there for me. Because of their support I now feel I want to carry on and that is what I am doing.” Kevin
"I’ve always been amazed at how ill prepared we are for the death of people around us, but suicide is a whole different level. As a society I think we need to work out how to really talk about all those taboo subjects. Things are certainly better than they used to be, but there’s still so much people find too uncomfortable to talk about or just have no idea what to say. If we don’t talk about death how are we supposed to talk about suicide?
I’m always going to have unanswered questions after my mum’s death, I guess I’m working out how to find peace with that. But someone gave me some great advice when they said don’t be alone. It can feel very isolating but there is some amazing help out there." Sam
"Once... twice... three times...
touched by suicide.
An irreversible decision.
I wanted to try and make a difference.
Start a conversation.
Listen.
Give some time.
Be there.
Tell people.
Talking is a strength not a weakness.
Spark hope.
And, here I am, years on." Adrienne
“I have a condition that makes me fear judgement, it's ironic that I'm in a game where I am judged.
I feel daily like the weight of my thoughts are forcing me to lose my will, it's ironic that to win I daily force the weight to do my will.
I live in a world where I am expected to fail and fall, it is ironic that to reach my potential failure is the only way I will rise.
I am a man who as such was weak and enclosed, it is NOT ironic that I now have the strength to be open.
@thetomorrowproject_uk not only saved my life but helped me create a life, there is no irony in that.” Jason
"You are enough and you are loved" Liz
"I always found it hard to find anyone I could talk to when I was younger but confiding in someone I didn't know allowed me to find my voice. That non judgemental, calm and open person who would listen." Philippa
"Often when confronted with mental illness we turn to the Police for help, but they too need better training and support for their own welfare and mental health care....my son was a Police Officer doing a stressful job and also trying to manage his own personal crisis. He took his own life in November 2016 and the loss is absolutely devastating for everyone close to him" Derek
“Perinatal mental health problems affect between 10 to 20% of women during pregnancy and the first year after having a baby.
As a Midwife, I feel I have a central role in supporting women's wellbeing and can make a valuable contribution to the promotion of mental health in the perinatal and postnatal period.” Jo
“For someone who has never experienced suicidal thoughts, the thought of wanting to die in itself can seem ludicrous. But that has been my reality for over fifteen years. I have tirelessly fought with suicidal thoughts for so many years, at one point in time I believed suicide was the kindest thing I could have done for myself and everyone around me. It plagued me, it beat me down, it told me I was a worthless human being, it became the constant uninvited house guest, but in my mind. But over time & with the right help, I learned that there’s power in numbers, and sometimes the best number is two. You, a therapist, and the possibility of letting someone else in. Even if that someone is a stranger. I learned that there’s power in changing the conversation and that even the smallest change can start in the most unexpected of places. Like an office, shared by a therapist and a client.
Suicide is something we need to talk about. We can’t let it be the elephant in the room. Because it will still sit there, taking up space, whether or not we ignore it. I feel very lucky to be alive and I stick by what I always say, the bravest thing I ever did was carry on living and fighting when all I wanted to do was to die. I am living proof that you can have a healthy, positive & fulfilling life after suicide. Sometimes we just need a little more time for some hope to re-grow, but it does!" Hannah
"Life
becomes colourless...
The rainbow that once filled you with its
colourful energy,
so renewing, rejuvenating and replenishing with its magnificent magic
-suddenly - and painfully
dissolves, disappears and disperses into an abyss of nothingness...
Leaving behind a whirlwind of confusion,
a body, now an empty shell,
a world that is soundless, with no texture, no voice
and no more colour." Pav
“The thought... the far off dream... of one day becoming a mother helped me find my way to recovery. I had given up for so long, written off as an ‘expected suicide’ but now I’m expecting my 4th & 5th children and dedicate my life to helping others out of the darkness ” Caroline Harroe, CEO
"People say suicide is selfish however, suicide was never for my gain. For me, I thought the world was better off without me.
Nature, long walks, fresh air all helped to break the deafening silence in my head. Being outside soothed me and restored my mind.
Nature reminded me that no one is perfect and all good things are wild and free." Sarah
"Over 10 years I found my sister, post suicide attempt, 47 times before her last successful attempt in 2016. For 10 years I was defined by her actions and focused on keeping her alive. I quit my hobbies. I scraped through my education. I lost friends and partners.
I was asked on a panel recently 'But isn't your life much easier now?' Or course it is. But I'd trade the ease I am living for her back in a heartbeat." Cassie
"there is no next time round, life's not a rehearsal" Sam
"I love escaping to nature, it's the peace I like and the beauty of it. It reminds me that there was a monster in my head and now its quiet, and that if it tries to raise its voice again I can beat it, so can you." Daniel
"Feeling different can sometimes mean that no one will understand. And no one will be able to help. Hope becomes just another word, meaningless and something other people say but we somehow cannot really hear. And yet you're not alone, and acceptance is there, in random acts from strangers, in a drink with someone who cares, in the presence of other professionals. In ourselves. Life can, life does get better." Ana
“People ask ‘Didn’t you see any signs?’ They were there, little ones, but do you really think at the time that they will escalate to the ultimate outcome? No you don’t.
How wrong can you be. The brave face and the ‘Yes, I’m fine thanks’, only serve to mask the unimaginable struggles and suffering going on inside.
Will lived life for everyone around him, the kindest, caring man I ever had the privilege to call a friend.
The pain within to leave everyone behind and make that choice? Is it a choice?
It really is EVERYONE’S BUSINESS and anyone can help.” Jamie
“Suicide has been a part of my life for what feels like forever. Only recently have I felt like I am in control. A huge catalyst for this change has been Nottingham... Cities live and breathe and remind me that no matter how chaotic things might be in my head, I am not alone. The city has brought me many things, but most
important is the chance to pick myself up and thrive” Claire
“Growing up, surrounded by and touched by suicide, sport was my only safe space. A place of comfort in the chaos.
As a caregiver, trying to be so brave and quiet in sharing the pain of others it can be hard and I needed a place to call my own.
But a better day always comes.” Katie
“Will, you died by suicide 21 months ago, leaving myself (your wife) and two boys, then aged 16 and 18. I often say to people that you took your own life, but that somehow implies that there was a rational choice involved. In your mind there was no choice, you were so ill, in such unbearable psychological pain, that you needed to escape that pain. You kept a notebook in the weeks before you died and this allows us some insight into your suffering. You felt: overwhelmed by life, on a loop of despair and anguish, no hope for the future, a failure, that we would be better off without you and that your world was falling apart. No one can truly understand how bad you felt. You didn’t choose to die, the illness chose you.” Marie
"Our family were affected by suicide last year and it brought home to me the pressures that teenagers are currently under and the important work organisations such as The Tomorrow Project are doing. This is why I am helping to fundraise for them with a team of friends swimming up to 5km in Lake Bala, Wales, cycling back to East Leake and running for 24 hours at the Equinox 24 endurance event at Belvoir Castle." Claire
“I want to try to make a difference - even if it’s something small.
I want people to know that
Other people care.
Other people want to help.
Other people want to talk.
I care. I want to help. I’d be there to talk.
Please talk, to anybody. Please. Silence is not golden. Silence is the killer.” Tiff
"From the moment I found out my brother had died by suicide I've never felt whole. He was my best friend my life and soul and I'll never get over his loss.
Steven had many issues with mental health and additctions although to the world you would never know.
People would say he was so happy and cheeful always smiling but smiles can hide so many pains, hurts and troubles.
My family are so strong and close but Stevens suicide were the ripples that shocked through our still waters, over and over again. I watched each and every family member deal with his loss and the shock and grief in so many different ways. There's was guilt, anger, upset, heartache and nothing seemed to help until we decided to do something about it.
We became very passionate about raising awarness and making sure people did not feel alone.
We sold wrist bands with Stevens name and suicide awarness on. They were hugely successful and raised many funds along with a conversation starter that helped many people.
We had a fun day and spread the word where ever we could.
With the funds we raised we found the Tomorrow project and decided they were the ones we wanted to support.
Knowing the money raised and the awarness spread was making a difference helped in our grieving process.
We can feel confident and happy that Steven would also be so proud and, shoe on the other foot, he would do the same.
If ever there is a way I can make a difference and help stop the silence of suicide then I will for I will never see my brother again my children will never laugh with their uncle, my parents will never get to say I love you again and there is no worse feeling in this world.
I have since had another child and I hate the fact she will never meet him but for the memories left in my heart she will always be told about her uncle my brother Steven who can never be replaced and I can never tell I love again; my pain is constant.
Suicide is a silent demon don't let it beat you talk to someone please” Jo
"If somebody has said to me 15 years ago that today I would be spending every day doing a job I love, I wouldn't have believed them.
If somebody had said to me 15 years ago that today I would be alive, I wouldn't have believed them.
To have reached a point where every day is spent pursuing my passion, working with amazing musicians and producers, is honestly something I could never have imagined.
Music is an outlet, a creative release and so many people in all areas of the industry have managed to use it to positively affect their mental health. Having a medium in which to direct your thoughts and channel your emotions is something that most of us now rely on as a regular way to process our emotions.
I am grateful every day for the comfort, peace and joy I have found within music; and even more so that I am here to enjoy an infinitely fun and positive career in it.” Polly