Gloucester woman reveals the impact suicide can have on families
She's urging people to look out for subtle signs on World Suicide Prevention Day
A woman from Gloucester says the impact of someone taking their own life can be felt "for years" to come after it happens.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show 64 people took their own lives across Gloucestershire in 2020.
However, the true impact of the pandemic on this data is not yet known.
We've been speaking to a woman from Gloucester, who wants to remain anonymous, about the impact it can have on families.
Her grandmother took her own life in 1974 after suffering from bi-polar disorder - formerly known as manic depression.
"She spent a some time in mental health hospitals but back then they just didn't understand mental health challenges", she says.
"So she was treated with electro convulsive therapy (ECT) and all sorts of unusual things.
"Nobody talked about things like that back then, so the family didn't and all the issues were just swept under the carpet."
The theme of this years' World Suicide Prevention Day is 'Creating Hope Through Action' and focuses on the idea of 'hope' in suicide prevention.
"The impact my grandmother's death had on my mum and her sisters was immense.
"They carried a lot of blame as her children and my mum says she always had this feeling of not being good enough because if she had, then my grandmother wouldn't have taken her own life.
"My other auntie told me that it just sent her into being completely over-protective, especially with her won sons when they were younger".
"It's important to ask people if they're alright"
"When someone makes that decision to take their own life they almost have a period of elation and they appear to be fine which can trick the rest of their family and friends.
"That's often a sign that they're not okay though and that's when it's really important to ask those blunt questions.
"For example someone might ask you to look after their dog next week so that they know it's going to be taken care of. They'll make plans for the future but these can be little but crucial signs that they're trying to say to you "I'm thinking of doing this but can you stop me?"
"It's about looking out for slight changes in behaviour and just being bold and just asking someone if they're alright and encouraging them to talk to you".