The grief of losing a friend who has taken their own life is not something I ever expected to have to deal with. But whenever I think of Jon I think back to the last meal we had together, at our house - a takeaway curry which was our standard - and the conversation we had. He mentioned he’d had a lot going on, that there were some things bothering him but it didn’t sound like anything bigger than the usual post work gripe that all of us have from time to time. 2 weeks later he was gone. The question always lingers: Should I, could I, have done more to talk to him about what he was going through? Is there anything that could have stopped what happened?

Mental Health is a topic that plenty of people still struggle to talk about. It is something that many in the legal profession struggle with. I have had my own struggles with work related stress and anxiety in the past and spent time with CBT and anti-depressant treatments. 

Jonathan’s voice aims to reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues and to encourage people to reach out for help. They work with organisations to encourage better mental health and well-being support in the workplace. Work by charities like this is so important, especially at the moment given the impact of the pandemic on people’s working lives and the ability to meet with people that we would normally rely on for support.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.