Suicide awareness charity offers inquest help

The Headlight Project works with solictors

A charity has launched a campaign to help grieving families through the "daunting" inquest process.

The Headlight Project in Stockton was set up by Katie Devereux after her husband took his own life in 2018.

The charity has created a series of videos designed to inform people about the process and purpose of an inquest, to set expectations and make the experience easier.

Ms Devereux, who is also a counsellor at the charity, said inquests often cause "significant stress and anxiety".

The prospect of attending an inquest can also hinder the grieving process, she said.

"Families are understandably worried about what information will emerge and it can often trigger the raw initial grief felt in the immediate aftermath of that person's death," she said.

"We were determined to create a well-informed resource that opens up the inquest process and helps people prepare for what they can and can't expect."

'Nothing but praise'

The north-east of England has the highest suicide rate in the UK, and the latest government figures show the number of inquests is increasing.

The Headlight Project has worked with experts with first-hand experience of inquests for its Guiding Light series.

Solicitor Alistair Smith and senior Teesside coroner Clare Bailey were interviewed for the series, offering an insider perspective on what happens.

Mr Smith said his firm had heard from people helped by the project who had "nothing but praise for all involved".