Jersey families carry baton for suicide prevention

Jersey was the 16th stop on the tour for the Baton of Hope

Nearly 30 islanders who have lost loved ones to suicide joined a prevention initiative in the British Isles on Sunday - The Baton of Hope.

With its aim to start conversations about mental health, charity The Baton of Hope UK has brought an Olympic-style torch to cities and towns in the British Isles.

Organisers said the baton acted as a symbol of mental wellbeing.

Jersey was its 16th stop on its 20-location tour, which saw people carry the torch in a relay around the island, from Albert Quay to Corbière.

One of the baton bearers was Adam Hodgkins, who lost his son to suicide in 2017.

"Benjamin was 33 years old when he took his own life. He was a lovely young boy, but he sadly got terribly ill mentally, and for him it became too much.

"I choose to remember him as this glorious little boy who ran around my parents' garden and lit up the room when he came in, not the very poorly young man who suffered terribly from psychosis.

He said carrying the baton on Sunday, brought up a mixture of emotions: "Joy, hope, sadness, grief, guilt - all of those in a blender.

"I was lucky enough to have friends walk with me, but I chose to walk on my own for a little bit and think about Ben, have a chat to him, which might have sounded a bit weird - but it was good to reflect.

"The last three months have brought his death into focus. It's been a very emotional experience, but in many different and not all sad ways."

Mike McCarthy lost his son to suicide nearly five years ago

The Baton of Hope was started in 2021 by a group of bereaved dads, including Mike McCarthy, who made it his mission to channel his grief into action.

He said: "I lost my son to suicide four-and-a-half years ago; Ross was 31. We got a call in the middle of the night to say he had taken his own life.

"He left a long letter where he said 'please fight for mental health, the support is just not there'.

"So when I got back on my feet, that sentence resonated with me and I heard it everyday, so I pledged with some other bereaved dads to fulfill what was effectively my son's dying wish."

Hundreds of people joined the baton on its route through Jersey, supporting those taking part and reflecting on their own experiences of suicide bereavement.

The day ended with people from the fire service carrying the baton up to the top of Corbière Lighthouse.