Shining a light on an important issue
A Shotts mum who lost both her brother-in-law and cousin in the space of just three months joined a campaign to highlight the tragic rise in the number of suicides.
Last week, Nicola Frew, 35, a volunteer for the charity FAMS (Families and Friends Affected by Murder and Suicide), joined other families to show her support for World Mental Health Day at a switch-on event in Glasgow.
Charities and organisations around the globe united on Thursday to shine a light on mental health and the campaign against social stigma.
The green ribbon projections aim to raise awareness of the alarming rise in the number of people taking their own lives in Scotland.
Nicola was devastated by the death of her sister Natalie’s partner, Graham Fraser, 27, in June.
That tragedy was closely followed by the death her cousin, Jamie Weir, 30, last month.
Both were young dads from Wishaw who knew each other, and their deaths have left their families’ lives shattered.
“Everyone loved them both to bits. They were friends and to have that happen to them both in such a short space of time has just been terrible,” said Nicola.
“There are wee ones left without their fathers, parents without their sons and girlfriends left without their partners.”
Nicola will help launch a mobile app next week designed to help those in need of help.
Volunteers will provide 24/7 support via a chat service.
The service is being launched by Why?: The Graham Fraser Foundation, and was set up by his family.
“We were devastated when Graham passed away, leaving behind an incredibly loving family and his beautiful one-yearold daughter Hannah,” Nicola continued.
“All we want to do now is try and help raise awareness in the hope we can prevent other families having to go through the pain we have.
“We want to help others realise there is always another option.”
Recent figures show that Scotland now has the highest suicide rate in the UK.
In Scotland, the number of people taking their own lives rose by 15 per cent in a year, from 680 in 2017 to 784 in 2018. The overwhelming majority of those are male.
Toni Guigliano, policy manager at Mental Health Foundation Scotland said: “Scotland’s increasing suicide rate is both concerning and devastating.
“We now have the highest suicide rate in the UK and the number of young people taking their own lives has risen to its highest levels since 2007.
“Our society is increasingly selfreliant, families and communities are further apart, job insecurity is rising and our young people are under extreme pressures to succeed.
“These pressures are taking their toll on our mental health and both the Scottish and UK Governments are not doing enough to give people the social safety net they need in times of hardship.”
FAMS will be holding a “Give Youth a Chance” rally in Glasgow’s George Square this Sunday, October 20 between 1pm and 3pm.
Any organisation which would like to get involved can email: info@fams. chat