I was 14 when I lost my father to suicide. It’s a moment that changed everything, though for a long time, I didn’t fully realise how deeply it shaped me.
Back then, suicide wasn’t something you spoke about. Not in school, not with friends, and definitely not in my home. There was a huge silence around it, wrapped in shame, fear, and confusion.
Coming from a mixed heritage background, and I witnessed how, in many communities, suicide was so heavily stigmatized. It wasn’t spoken about. It was hidden, and that silence leaves those left behind carrying not just grief, but deep isolation.
We weren’t allowed to speak openly about what had happened. It was brushed aside, covered up, and those of us still here were left to make sense of the pain with no tools, no language, no support.
I tried therapy once, but it didn’t work for me back then. The professionals I saw didn’t know how to hold conversations around suicide with someone young. There was stigma not just at home, but everywhere.
What did help me, especially in those early years, was finding creative ways to express myself. For me, that was in music, songwriting, singing and art. These became quiet lifelines, ways to release, to process, to feel something in a world that often felt frozen. Later, I found deeper healing through meditation, reiki, sound healing, and voice work, practices that helped me reconnect with my body, my heart, my energy, and my voice in the aftermath of so much silence. These were things I built over time. They became anchors. Sacred spaces. And through my work today, I get to share some of those spaces with others.
That’s why becoming an ambassador for Suicide&Co has meant so much to me. Suicide&Co is a UK-based charity supporting people who’ve lost someone to suicide. It was co-founded by Amelia Wright, whose own loss led her to create something she couldn’t find at the time: a place for honest conversation, real support, and safe healing for people navigating this kind of grief. It is a different grief that only people who experience, understand. Suicide & Co’s work is vital, and our community is bigger than people initially think.
This May, Suicide&Co is hosting its first-ever Self Care Fair on May 3rd & 4th, a weekend designed to nurture your mind, body, and soul. From panel discussions with leading voices in well-being to yoga sessions, sound baths, and interactive workshops on stress management, mindfulness, and emotional resilience, there’s something for everyone.
A key highlight of the weekend will be an exclusive In Conversation with Shirley Bassey, where the legendary singer and Suicide&Co ambassador will share her personal journey, insights into mental health, grief, and self-care.
Whether you’re seeking relaxation, new wellness tools, or simply looking to connect with like-minded individuals, this event is a place for all to heal and grow.
I’m truly honoured to have helped curate the wellbeing talks and experiences of this event and be part of it.
For more information and to register, visit: Self Care Fair – Suicide&Co or if you or anybody you know are struggling, call Samaritans for free at 116 123 (free, 24/7) or visit samaritans.org
