People bereaved by suicide come together for Side by Side event

People with the shared experience of bereavement by suicide came together today (06 September) in Edinburgh. 

With World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 coming up on Wednesday, the Side By Side After Suicide event was an opportunity for people who have lost a loved one to connect and commemorate.

The day was co-developed (and presented) with members of our Suicide Prevention Scotland Lived & Living Experience Panel. 

Attendees heard about yesterday’s Baton of Hope tour of West Lothian, which was delivered by Neil’s Hugs Foundation - and got to see the baton itself. Angie Mutch was joined on stage by its founder Donna Paterson-Harvie. Also with them was Baton of Hope co-founder and chair, Mike McCarthy, the chair and volunteer Jane Walsham. 

Mike revealed that the baton is inscribed with the words of Archbishop Desmond Tuto, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.”

There were opportunities to spend time together through craft or a (gentle) walk led by Cruse Scotland.

Later there was live music from Maureen O’Kelly who performed her beautiful lullaby, “Little Thinker” and music therapist Folke Wieemann.

We ended the day with a memorial led by humanist celebrant Lara Celini, which created a moving opportunity for everyone to remember loved ones lost.

Ros Donaldson from our Lived & Living Experience Panel hosted the day. 

She noted that for many people joining us it was the first time they had come into such an open space after their own loss. 

“Sometimes people can’t make that first step,” Ros said. 

“It took me probably 25 years to make that first step.

"So, these events are really important for spreading the word that it’s ok; that the people in those communities - us - will talk and we will listen.”

View images from today on Facebook