Good day to all the amazing people of Hadleigh, if you seen my previous post reference the suicide prevention bench then this post will hopefully explain it a little more in detail. I'm in the process of sorting installation of the Suicide Prevention and Mental Health and Wellbeing Bench to be installed in a central location in Hadleigh Suffolk. Hopefully this will be made easier by our kind local council.

I've done a lot for charity myself and also supported many initiatives and events in connection with the mental health and wellbeing of adults and children and young people.

I'm a PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) Champion, travelling the country giving suicide prevention presentations to large organisations, colleges, universities and other public services.

I'm also a Cruse Bereavement Support Councillor for adults and Children and Young people so I can support the during their journey through bereavement.

I have covered many courses to equip myself in giving the best support possible to those that need it most. I've been on a long journey myself through a traumatic loss of a beautiful daughter by suicide aged 19, this while away with the Army on pre-ops training in Arizona. This is me giving back to our community for the great support and to also highlight that even in the darkest moments you are never alone.

Eventually life got a bit to difficult for myself and was eventually medically discharge from the Army after 20+ years with Complex PTSD, Adjustment Disorder and Complex Grief. Recently I've was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder due to the highs and lows of a busy and hectic lifestyle. But this hasn't stop me pushing for a safer community for the people of Hadleigh.

Sine then I have managed to control my own mental health with the help of sport, charity work and the obvious medication.

Ran the Barcelona Marathon for Help for Heroes

I've cycled across the country for Child Bereavement UK

Ran the Brighton Marathon and London Marathon for Child Bereavement UK.

Ran the London Marathon for the Royal British Legion.

Ran the London Marathon for PAPYRUS

4 X Great North Runs the largest half marathon in the world for the below charities:

*Child Bereavement UK

*The Royal British Legion

*2 x for PAPYRUS and this year I will be doing my third.

I've done a lot more, to much to mention but raised over £120.000 for numerous charities. My recovery through sport was topped with selection for the Invictus Games in February this year.

This bench would potentially be life saving and a central point offering support 24/7.

These benches will have plaques with QR codes, which will take anyone requiring support, directly to this website’s help page. There are also contact telephone numbers on the bench to 24 hour support services with real people at the other end, ready to listen and offer the support so clearly needed to someone struggling with the impact of depression, bereavement, loneliness, anxiety and the many more reasons for the feelings of despair. These benches have also been built with integral lighting, so they are a beam of light for those in crisis at night, drawing them to the much-needed help on the bench.

We need to give those who are struggling an option to reach out, if they don't have an option then they won't reach out which could have a negative effect on their mental wellbeing in the future.

If you wish to join this quest to try to reduce the country's mental health and suicide deaths please have a look at the website below and if possible kindly donate to the cause.

Once we have raised enough we will look at having a reveal of the bench where we will invite the community to come and join us, the local press and some local mental health charities.

https://www.legend-on-the-bench.co.uk/