Suicide memorial quilt aims to change attitudes

Beeb Deacon said she did not want people who took their own lives to be ignored

A quilt created by families and friends of people who have lost their lives to suicide has gone on display in Portsmouth.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Speak Their Name Suicide Memorial Quilt is made up of squares, each honouring the memory of someone who has died.

Co-organiser Beeb Deacon, whose daughter Bryony took her own life at the age of 32, read out the names of all the people represented on the quilt at a launch event.

Ms Deacon said: "We want to speak their name. We love these people. We don't want people to ignore us and we don't want judgement."

Tristan Kluibenschadl's son Stefan died by suicide at the age of 15 after experiencing bullying.

He said: "People felt it would be okay to bully him because he was different, Stefan was autistic.

"He went from being a kind, loving, funny boy to an introverted shell of himself."

Mr Kluibenschadl said it was important to open up the conversation about suicide.

"Some people whisper the word suicide and that just adds to the stigma," he added.

The quilt is made up of squares, each honouring the memory of someone who took their own life

Stefan's cousin Claudia Davis, who made a panel in his memory, said it had been an "emotional" process.

She said: "You are doing something for someone you love who you can't see anymore."

The quilt unveiling formed the centrepiece of Portsmouth’s Let’s Get Talking About Suicide event in Victoria Park in Portsmouth.

Now in its second year, the event has a focus on suicide prevention.

The quilt will be on display at Portsmouth Cathedral until 27 September and will tour other venues in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via the BBC Action Line.