Building Hope and Community Resilience: My Commitment to Suicide Prevention in Somerset

In 2022, I made the decision to stand as a Councillor for the newly established Somerset Authority (Somerset Council). My motivation stemmed from the personal—having recently lost a friend to suicide. In our close-knit community between Shepton Mallet and Wells, since my election win, we’ve mourned two lives lost to suicide, each of whom was a truly extraordinary soul: creative, radiant, and beautiful individuals whose presence lit up a room. The impact on families, friends, and the community is immense. My thoughts remain with their loved ones, whose grief is beyond measure.

Did you know that three times more people die by suicide than on our roads? A life is lost approximately every 90 minutes, and unfortunately, Somerset’s rates are higher than the national average.

The toll on families, friends, and communities is profound. That is why I am dedicated to supporting Somerset communities and the Unitary Authority in understanding and preventing suicide, as well as promoting mental health awareness.

I have worked to deepen our understanding of mental health challenges. I was honored to be appointed Vice Chair of the Adults and Health Scrutiny Committee, a role that has allowed me to champion suicide prevention initiatives. I introduced suicide awareness work from the Public Health Team at Somerset Council into the committee’s work programming, and they now provide regular updates. I promote training for colleagues and encourage proactive conversations around mental health. Additionally, I am helping the Liberal Democrat national party create an updated national policy on mental health and suicide prevention.

Each year, I participate in the Walk for Life on World Suicide Prevention Day in Taunton, and I’m planning to organise a second Walk for Life in Shepton Mallet in 2026, driven by key local community groups. These walks are vital not just to remember those we have lost, but to bring our community together in hope and collective action.

One of my biggest goals for suicide prevention is to establish “afterlife” benches along the Strawberry Line and Somerset Circle. These active travel routes already support community wellbeing and are a remarkable example of decades of community coming together. Driven by volunteers and community spirit, these spaces can also serve as places for remembrance and reflection for those we have lost to suicide—and importantly, as a tool to help prevent suicides and save lives. These benches will offer comfort, signposting for help, and a space to honor loved ones. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers from Somerset Circle and Windsor Hill Project, the first bench has already been assembled. More are planned, and my dream is to see many more along the entire route of the Strawberry Line.

The Strawberry Line, and Somerset Circle in particular, exemplify some of the best community endeavour I have encountered. It’s a testament to what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose—support, compassion, and hope.

Together, through community effort and compassion, we can inspire hope and support those struggling with mental health challenges. Every step forward is a step toward saving lives and healing hearts.