A Cumbrian woman whose brother took his own life is leading the charge to raise awareness of suicide by putting the county at the heart of a national campaign.
Lisa Birdsall, whose brother Stephen took his own life, has pioneered a plan for the county to host the symbolic Baton of Hope on Sunday September 7, 10 years on from his death.
She and other suicide survivors and families of loved ones who have taken their own lives will form a relay through the county – with between 50 and 75 baton holders – backed by a range of businesses providing funding and logistical support.
Team members from Forth, an award-winning engineering solutions business based in Flimby, Cleator Moor, and Barrow, are among businesses represented on the organising committee, and helping to raise awareness as well as to support organising the event.
Lisa, who lives and works in Carlisle and is from West Cumbria, successfully lobbied for the Baton of Hope, made by the late Queen’s jeweller, to be carried through the county as a sign of hope for survivors of suicide or family of those who have taken their own lives.
The finer details of the Cumbria itinerary for the September event, from 7.30am to 7.30pm, are still being finalised.
The Baton of Hope is due to set off from Leconfield, Cleator Moor, in the early morning of September 7, starting at Forth’s offices and Sellafield Ltd’s Engineering Centre of Excellence.
It will stop at the Goodlives project at Westlakes Science Park where soup will be provided, before moving onto Whitehaven. It will then travel to Bassenthwaite Lake, Penrith, and onto Carlisle.
The Baton of Hope charity was founded in 2022 by two dads Mike McCarthy and Steve Phillip who both lost family members to suicide.
Mike said he wanted to ensure that the legacy of his son Ross’ death would be to change the landscape of mental health services in the UK.
For the 2023 inaugural tour, the Baton of Hope visited 12 UK cities.
Lisa, who has been on the board of trustees for Every Life Matters since 2022, was a baton bearer in Newcastle.
She said: “It was one of the most inspirational and powerful experiences that I have ever been a part of.
“In Cumbria we have some of the worst statistics on suicide in the UK, yet the county is often overlooked.
“As soon as it became clear there was going to be second tour this year and the organisers were inviting bids for places to host it, I was determined it would come here.
“The former Copeland area has the highest suicide rate per capita in the UK. Carlisle is second. Men account for 75 per cent of suicides. But females outnumber men by more than half in terms of suicide attempts.
“Cumbria’s overall statistics on suicide are 55 per cent above the national average. So come hell or high water I was going to make sure the Baton of Hope was coming to Cumbria.
“When it comes to talking about suicide we often focus on the despair. I want us to focus on the hope – and show what is out there and what can help. We need to turn the message around and change it to hope because he golden thread binding us all together through this is that hope.”
Lisa added: “The baton is a huge, heavy and a beautiful physical thing which acts as a symbol to start conversations and continue those conversations and pass it on.
“We are raising the profile of the need to talk. To be preventative we need to be open and honest about mental health discussions.
“There are a lot of suicide charities, but we can be siloed. The Baton of Hope is designed to bring all of us together and make us a stronger force for change.”
Graham Cartwright, projects director at Forth, and Ken Johnston, business liaison manager at Forth, are on the Cumbria Baton of Hope committee supporting Lisa.
Forth will also provide transport and logistical support throughout the event.
Graham said: “We have had our own experiences of suicide. We know how prevalent it is in Cumbria and we know how devastating it is for everyone concerned, for all families and friends, and we absolutely know that more needs to be done to help those who are in a dark place and who feel, for whatever reason, that there is no other way out.
“We have been only too glad to give our support to Lisa and to help make the Baton of Hope coming to Cumbria a turning point for mental health support in the county.”
Event partner The Decommissioning Alliance is supporting the Cumbrian leg of the tour.
Other businesses, organisations, charities and venues who have already given their support to the event include: Forth, Sellafield Ltd, Goodlives, Whitehaven RL, The Beacon, Local schools, Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, Irvings Coaches, Penrith Young Farmers, Carlisle United, the New Fire Station (Carlisle), Andy Man’s Club, NHS, First Responders, Carlisle Castle and English Heritage.
A website has been created where more information can be found about the Cumbrian leg of the tour at www.batonofhopecumbria.co.uk
Anyone wishing to apply to be a baton bearer has until March 31 to do so and can apply at www.batonofhopeuk.org/be-a-baton-bearer
Lisa is also inviting others to get involved with sponsorship packages available. To support the Cumbria Baton of Hope event contact Lisa via batonofhopecumbria@gmail.com
This year’s Baton of Hope tour will visit 20 areas around the UK between September 3 and October 10.
Need help?
If you have been affected by this story the following organisations are ready to help.
- Samaritans – 116 123
- CALM – 0800 585858
- Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258
- PAPYRUS (U35s) – 0800 068 4141
- SWITCHBOARD (LGBTQ+) – 0300 330 0630
