A Norfolk dad and two others walking across UK, to raise awareness about suicide

'Three Dads walking' are supporting the charity PAPYRUS and start walking in Belfast, next Friday

Tim Owens (left), Mike Palmer (centre) and Andy Airey (right)
Author: Tom ClabonPublished 4th Sep 2022

In less than 5 days time, a Norfolk dad and two others will start walking across all 4 nations of the UK, to raise awareness about suicide.

'Three Dads walking' are supporting the charity PAPYRUS and start walking in Belfast, next Friday.

"You feel like it hasn't happened to anyone else, but it has"

Tim Owens is from Kings Lynn and lost his daughter Emily, in March 2020.

He says support like this is needed now more than ever:

"People are going through some really tough times and sometimes those people need support. When you lose somebody to suicide, you feel totally on your own and like an island. You feel like it hasn't happened to anyone else, but it has. There's over six thousand suicides a year in the UK and each one of those suicides affects 135 people- that means that around 1 million people are affected by suicide a year".

"We're not going away anywhere"

Mr Owens also told us that they want to get suicide prevention on the school curriculum, as soon as possible:

"We have got some really good backing from Minister and MPs, wishing us well. We got backing from the Department of Education and Health, it's all looking positive- but we're going to be talking about suicide prevention for a whole month. We're not going away anywhere and we think it's so important especially after what we've all been through over the past few years".

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