Caroline McClatcheyBBC News NI
Baton of Hope Newry
Leeanne Carey wanted to be a baton bearer in honour of her sister Louise
In one part of Northern Ireland this week, the conversation is going to be all about suicide and mental health.
The Baton of Hope is coming to Newry on Wednesday and it will travel around the wider area, with events being held to spread the message that there is support out there.
Leeanne Carey wanted to be a baton bearer in honour of her sister Louise, whom she lost to suicide in August 2022.
She was 33 years old and had suffered with her mental health for some time.
The mum-of-four from Gilford, in County Down, said in her area alone there had been 10 suicides in the past six years.
“I know Gilford is a small place, but most likely everybody has been affected in some capacity or known someone who has died by suicide,” she said.
“It’s the ripple effect that comes with it.”
What is the Baton of Hope?
Leeanne, who helped set up a charity called Changing Lives NI, is at pains to highlight just how much support is available for people struggling with their mental health.
“A lot of people think there is nothing out there. They go to the GP or A&E, they don’t realise there is a wealth of support in the voluntary sector,” she said.
“The voluntary sector are probably doing more than the NHS to be perfectly honest. – a wider range of services as well.”
And that is where the Baton of Hope comes in, to point people in the right direction.
It is the UK’s biggest suicide prevention initiative and it was set up by two grieving fathers, Mike McCarthy and Steve Phillip, whose sons took their own lives.
They came up with the idea of a baton which would be carried, like an Olympic torch, by people who had lost loved ones to suicide.
The baton is about to embark on another tour of the UK – the first was in 2023 – and Newry is the second stop of 20.
The baton’s stint in Northern Ireland is being hosted by PIPS Hope and Support, a charity dedicated to suicide prevention.
Baton of Hope Newry
Padraig Harte, who is the project lead, said the baton was about remembrance and raising awareness
Padraig Harte, who used to work for PIPS and is the project lead for the Newry leg of the baton, said the plans grew and grew as they wanted to include as much of the area as possible.
“It’s quite rural compared to the urban areas in Great Britain,” he said.
“We are taking the baton lengthy distances, so we had to have different events and activities in each of the areas.”
Throughout the day, the baton will visit Crossmaglen, Cullyhanna, Keady, Camlough, Bessbrook, Kilkeel, Rostrevor, Warrenpoint and Banbridge.
Community walks, tree planting ceremonies and coffee mornings are among the events taking place along the way.
The day will finish at Newry Leisure Centre, where a charity market will be welcoming people from 10:00 BST to 20:00.
There are 40 plus baton bearers – they include people affected by suicide, fundraisers and members of the emergency services.
The baton will also be transported at times by motorbikes, a supercar and an RNLI rescue boat.
Numerous schools, sports clubs, voluntary groups, community organisations and government agencies are also on board.
Eddie Drury
Eddie Drury, on one of his many fundraising pilgrimages
Eddie Drury is another baton bearer. When not working for the council maintaining Lurgan Park, he is a serial fundraiser.
He has lost count of the number of Caminos he has done – the network of pilgrimage routes leading to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain – and the last few have been to raise money for PIPS after a friend’s son took his own life.
“I was absolutely delighted to be selected as a baton bearer because I just love PIPS and the job they do,” he said.
“They are there for people who are feeling low and people who have gone through the trauma of suicide.
“It’s very important to raise awareness of mental health issues in Northern Ireland.”
‘Totally smashed down’
The latest figures show there were 221 suicide deaths registered in Northern Ireland in 2023 – up from 203 the previous year.
More than three quarters of the deaths were men.
Padraig said there was still “a lot of taboo and stigma” around suicide, and the Baton of Hope was about encouraging people to “have those conversations”.
“No-one is immune from poor mental health and suicide is everyone’s business,” he said.
On Wednesday, Leeanne will be in Havelock Park in Banbridge – where in addition to information stalls, there will be a petting zoo and games.
She also talked about the stigma, especially among men.
“They don’t talk, they don’t show emotion, they are strong, they hold it all together – and that needs to be totally smashed down,” she said.
“Mums, women – cup of tea and they’ll talk about anything. It needs to be discussed more. Talking about suicide doesn’t cause suicide.”
The Baton of Hope is supported by the Public Health Agency, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and Give Inc.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, information and support can be found at the BBC’s Action Line.
