Mum who lost her son to suicide hopes 265-mile trek will save lives

A mum from North Staffordshire who completed a 265-mile walk across England to raise awareness of young suicide says she hopes it breaks the stigma around seeking help.

Liz Hurlstone from Madeley lost her 17-year-old son Seb in November 2021.

She teamed up with two others to form the group Just Three Mums Walking and took on the physical challenge with Kim McCarthy from London and Michelle Dore from Kent.

They were supported by the charity Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide who say suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK.

"There are times when you think what the hell am I doing this for." Liz told the Clyde 1 News Leave A Light On project.

"Then the realisation of why hits you, you're doing this because you've lost your son. And you don't want other people to be in the same situation."

Their hike started in Liz's hometown of Madeley and continued through various areas to Northamptonshire where Kim and her 21-year-old son Hayden are from, who took his own life in 2019.

The final stop was in Kent, hometown of Michelle and her 17-year-old son Maxi who took his life at the end of January 2022.

Liz is encouraging all young people to talk openly about their mental health and urges them to ask for help if they're struggling.

"If you're having those dark thoughts, help is there" she said.

"You just need to know how to access it, because otherwise your parents could be in the same situation that we're in. And we don't want that for you, and we don't want that for them."

In 2018 over 1800 young people took their own lives.

PAPYRUS provides confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person through their helpline, HOPELINEUK.

Liz said that she hopes by taking part in the trek it means that suicide becomes less of a "dirty word" to young people.

"I just hope it isn't a word they're frightened to use" she said.

"And if they're having suicidal thoughts, they need to remember that the stats suggest one in five people at some point in their lives will have thoughts of suicide.

"They may be fleeting, they may not be, they may be recurring, they may not be - but there is help there for you."

If someone's life is immediately in danger always call 999.

You can speak to your GP or get advice from the NHS if you want to talk about your mental health.

You can find mental health services close to you using the Hub of Hope

Call Samaritans on 116 123 if you want to talk to someone.

Alternatively you can text SHOUT to 85258 to speak via text message.

Papyrus UK have a helpline on 0800 068 4141 for young people or someone they know.

There are local mental health services across the country, such as Mikeysline in the Highlands and Moray, Shining a Light on Suicide in Greater Manchester and Thrive LDN in London.

You can listen to conversations about mental health each week on the Mental Health Monday Podcast, which you can download and stream where you get your podcasts.

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