Suicide Safer Harrogate music event for Ostrich Foundation

When Alison Pearson-Segal and Pat Sowa first met it was originally to see if they could support each other after the devastating loss of their sons.

Dom, Pat’s son, died in October 2017 while Alison’s son, died shortly after. Although the circumstances were very different, both women discovered a common goal in wanting to change the way suicide is understood and talked about so that unnecessary deaths can be prevented in the future.

Out of this has come two new organisations - The Ostrich Foundation founded by Alison to fundraise and raise awareness and Starfish, created by Pat to boost training and share information about mental health and suicide prevention.

Now the two mums have a new goal - to take the Suicide Safer Harrogate campaign to every secondary school in Harrogate.

Alison Pearson-Segal said: "At the Ostrich Foundation we’ve made it our mission to create a Suicide Safer Harrogate and when it comes to mental illness, we believe prevention is better than cure.

"We want people to become educated on how to spot initial anxieties before they manifest into bigger issues, telling our young people ‘don’t bury your head’ - help is out there!

"So, we are raising funds for the Mental Health First Aid training in local schools, sports clubs and other organisations.

"Some of the staff from Harrogate Grammar School have been the first to benefit from training carried out by Pat Sowa of Starfish Harrogate.

"The Ostrich Foundation continues to raise funds for this training across the Harrogate District."

While fully qualified mental health trainer Pat has spoken to more than 1,500 school teachers about how early intervention on mental health saves lives, Alison has organsised a series of successful events via her Ostrich Foundation to fundraise for local mental health charities.

After a successful collaboration with Harrogate indie brewery and bar Cold Bath Brewing Co on an Ostrich beer, the Ostrich charity walk in Ripley and an Ostrich gig at the Ivory Bar in Harrogate, Alison now has more events lined-up in the early part of the year.

OSTRICH GIG

Sunday, February 23 will see the Ostrich Gig 2020 at the Ivory Bar in Harrogate starring Robbie Miller, Let Luce and The 2 Wills.

The event will run from 4pm to 10pm.

Tickets are available at Ostrich Foundation’s website or via www.ticketweb.uk

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SUPPORT SERVICES

If you are worried about yourself or a loved one then do not hesitate to contact these groups who are there to help:

The Samaritans

Tel: 116123

Email: www.samaritans.org

Mind

Tel: 0300-1233393

Email: www.mind.org.uk

Wellspring Therapy & Training

Tel: 01423-881881

Email: www.wellspringtherapy.co.uk

Mental health support charity in Starbeck based at a new £1m facility which offers support to adults, children and teenagers seeking emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing.

The Ostrich Foundation

Tel: 0800-585858

Email: www.ostrichfoundation.co.uk

Harrogate charity which works with and supports other charities and NHS agencies to help reduce the number of young people who take their own lives.

Starfish

Email: www.starfishing.co.uk

Harrogate charity offering bespoke training on promoting mental wellbeing for anyone who works or lives with young people.

CALM

Tel: 0800-585858

Email: www.thecalmzone.net

Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide)

Tel: 0800-0684141

Email: www.papyrus-uk.org

West Yorks & Harrogate Suicide Bereavement Service

Tel: 0113 3055803

Email: www.wyhsbs.org.uk

A support service for people bereaved by suicide in West Yorks & Harrogate. Funded by @WYHpartnership and supported by Leeds City Council.

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