Bridge walk recalls city’s 69 lost lives

PEOPLE who have taken their lives in Dundee are to be remembered during a walk on the Tay Road Bridge this weekend.

The event has been organised by city-based mental health charity Walk and Blether in a bid to raise awareness about suicide and to work towards prevention.

On Sunday a small group of walkers will cross the bridge between the city and Fife as many times as possible within four hours.

Group member Valerie Roberts said: “Our aim is to raise awareness of suicide and to remember each of those who lost their lives to suicide in Dundee this year.

“During 2020, up until November, 69 people in Dundee committed suicide – that’s 69 people too many.

“Of those 69, 78% were men. Too many people die from suicide each year so we want to get the message out that there is never a problem, only a solution.

“We want to let people know that there are groups and organisations they can turn to who can and will help.

“There were 69 suicide deaths in Dundee last year and we want to do what we can to try to ensure there are none in the city in 2021.”

The initial plan had been to involve a large number of people, including the families of those who have died, and to cross the bridge 69 times to mark each of the lives lost.

But coronavirus restrictions have meant this was not possible and plans have had to be changed so the walk can still go ahead.

Valerie added: “Suicide hasn’t stopped just because of Covid-19 so we decided why should we stop.”

Eight people from two families will now complete the walk in groups of four, starting from either side of the bridge.

“We will be walking in line with restrictions and regulations but our plan is to walk as far as we can,” Valerie said.

“But rather than getting 69 crossings of the bridge we hope to be able to light 69 candles in memory of those who have died when we are at the Newport end of the bridge.”

Valerie said walkers will also be raising money for mental health charities with £270 of their target of £500 raised already.

Donations can be made atjustgiving. com/crowdfunding/valerie-lindsay-2. n Samaritans can be contacted by phone on 116 123, by emailing jo@samaritans. org or visit samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.