Those who took their own lives

People who have taken their own 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 of suicide and to work towards prevention.

On Sunday, a small group of walkers will walk the bridge between Dundee and Fife as many times as possible in 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, 78% were men. Too many people die from suicide each year so we want to get the message out there that there is never a problem only a solution,” she added.

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

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

But coronavirus restrictions have meant this was not possible and plans have been rearranged.

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

Valerie said that walkers would also raise money for mental health charities with £270 of their £500 target raised already.

Donations can be made at www. justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/ valerie-lindsay-2