North Swindon MP Hosts Meeting Of Swindon Survivors Of Bereavement By Suicide

Justin Tomlinson MP’s new community office has hosted the launch of a new support group for men who have suffered bereavement as a result of suicide.

The Swindon branch of Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) will be the first to run the Engaging Men Programme as a response to the idea that men can feel particularly socially isolated after losing a loved one who has taken their own life.

The new group is also supported by Nationwide, who have agreed to put on an event for the group consisting of a BBQ and a game of 5-a-side football.

Jacqueline Parry, who runs SOBS in Swindon and Wiltshire, said at the launch event last week said “We’re really pleased to be piloting the scheme here in Swindon. Steve Carter is the person who came up with the idea – he found that men either weren’t going or weren’t getting enough out of the groups. Men don’t like to sit around and chat in the same way as women so he thought there needed to be something more targeted at them. We’re looking at putting on six social activities between now and the end of the year for men who feel socially isolated after losing a loved one to suicide.”

Steve Carter who lost his own son to suicide in September 2011, commented “For me losing a child is a bit like losing a limb, but words don’t really describe the emotions attached to it. It could equally be a spouse or a relative, friend or colleague – the pain is pretty severe. I found that SOBS was a great help, it gave us good advice and helped us to talk about our feelings. For me it’s a privilege and in a way, a pleasure, to be doing this now. It’s a real buzz for me to be able to see this at the beginning of what I hope will have the ability to really reach men affected by suicide.”

Justin Tomlinson MP said: “I’m very proud that my office has been chosen to host the launch of this local and national programme. It is vital for people often in very challenging and distressed circumstances to be able to access the peer to peer support they need in a way which benefits them most effectively.”

If any other groups or charities are interested in using Justin’s new office, then please email bennettk@parliament.uk or telephone 01793 533393.