Samantha
Didn't get to celebrate her 22nd birthday
Our beautiful daughter Samantha didn't get to celebrate her 22nd birthday; she took her life aged 21.
Samantha, she was so kind and thoughtful—her presence, her dress sense—everything about her was so unique, so fun to be with.
I remember when she was well, how she lit up any room she walked into. Her quirky way of smelling you as she hugged. And when she was performing on stage, her singing voice, and the presence when she was singing—I just remember the joy of being with her; she was so joyful when she was well.
I have a memory; she organised a fashion show for her Nan's hospice, and her friends were so keen to take part, and family, they were rehearsing outside in the cold. People would do anything she asked. And she'd leave loving notes and thank-you notes with drawings on them, and she would write songs.
We were coming back from her university; she hadn't been well, but she made a song up about chevrons on the motorway. It was such a silly song, but just laughing on the way home about these chevrons. And then another time she was 13 and we were on holiday and she was doing karaoke. And the organiser came over and swapped her mic for a better one, and she sang from a distance, and everyone was so moved. People were crying. A young lady was crying; it was just beautiful.
By sharing Samantha's story for this campaign, I hope it will really bring positive awareness. And it is hard to talk about, but then once you've started, it gets easier. It needs to be recognised, it needs to be talked about without judgement or shame. And I'm sure this campaign will help to do this. I think if we could definitely help our families and friends, talking about suicide would come as easily as talking about any illness. I know when Samantha was under the health service she would not tell or let me tell her friends where she was, she felt embarrassed, and I know she felt ashamed of her illness. We weren't ashamed. We weren't, but she was. And this in turn did not help her or aid her mental recovery; she felt isolated, she felt worthless. Mental health is health, and just as important as physical health. And such a part of your overall well-being. And so it should be talked about as much as health is.
