Trigger warning - this episode contains conversations about suicide

Episode 69

Improving the bereavement support for families of suicide victims.

When Matthew Smith was just 10 years old he lost his 19 year old brother Daniel to suicide. The subsequent years have seen Matthew and his family attempt to reconcile what happened to Daniel, and find a life after suicide. As part of that healing process, Matthew, along with his brother Ben and cousin Sarah decided to sell wristbands with the message if u care share printed on them at football clubs. In the process, they raised £50k for mental health charities.

From that was born If U care share, a mental health charity with three main aims: Prevention, intervention & support of those bereaved by suicide.

The years since Daniel's death have been incredibly difficult for Matthew and his family, but they have used their lived experience to try and provide support and resources to families who tragically find themselves in the same position. Support and resources that weren't available to them back in 2005. Today's conversation focuses on the work that If U care share do, as well as how families come to terms with the suicide of a loved one.

To find out more about If U care share, head to their website https://www.ifucareshare.co.uk/ or you can call them on 0191 387 5661

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If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk:

Samaritans Call 116 132 for free

https://www.samaritans.org/

Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41

Papyrus Website

CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58

https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/

MIND 0300 123 3393

https://www.mind.org.uk/

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123

https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/