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Baton walk symbol of hope for suicide survivors

Mike McCarthy Ten people in navy blue T shirt and one man in a white T shirt pose in front of a teal bandstand. They are smiling at the camera.Mike McCarthy
The team of baton carriers walked around Sheffield's Weston Park

A charity started by a father who lost his son to suicide has held a Walk of Hope to encourage open conversations around mental health.

Mike McCarthy, a former BBC and Sky News reporter, lost his son Ross to suicide aged 31.

After Ross left a farewell note asking his family to campaign for better mental health support, Mr McCarthy co-founded the charity Baton of Hope.

He said Saturday's event at Sheffield's Weston Park was about "smashing stigma surrounding suicide and encourage open conversation".

He said: "Having witnessed first hand the trauma of losing a wonderful son with so much to give, I realised belatedly just how woeful society is when it comes to mental wellbeing.

"Together there is so much we can do and that includes bringing to an end the dreadful silence surrounding the subject."

The event saw campaigners carry a Baton of Hope, a gold baton designed and crafted by Thomas Lyte, goldsmiths and silversmiths to Queen Elizabeth II.

Baton bearers included people who had lost loved ones to suicide or survived a suicide attempt.

Mike McCarthy A woman with long brown hair wearing a blue T shirt holds a gold baton. She is standing on grass next to a large sign readying 'Making suicide prevention everyone's business'Mike McCarthy
Debbi Marlow carried the baton in memory of her brother Andrew

Debbi Marlow, who was among those who carried the baton, lost her brother Andrew to suicide three years ago.

She said: "We've come together in the name of our loved ones and to consider people who struggle with their mental health.

"Suicide is everyone's business. In some way so many of us will be affected by suicide, whether we lose someone who is very special to us or we're aware of that. We're all connected as humans by suicide in some way.

"We need to connect and talk about it and the baton allows those conversations."

Leah Laycock, who also carried the baton, witnessed her father attempt suicide as a child and is a suicide survivor herself.

She said: "Once upon a time, I wouldn't talk about it but after coming across the Baton of Hope charity, meeting other people and connecting with them has helped me so much.

"And it's brought my journey of recovery forward very quickly, which is amazing.

"Carrying the baton feels like a symbol of survival, strength, and hope – not just for me but for everyone who's ever felt like they couldn't go on."

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