Christopher Wellbelove DL

The Baton of Hope is part of a growing movement aspiring to a zero-suicide society. They believe that we simply should not tolerate more than 6,000 suicide deaths per year in the UK (as currently) when most suicides are preventable. 

They have a vision of a society where suicide and suicide prevention are openly and widely discussed, they look to inspire hope through action, where people are suitably supported, and where everyone plays their part in realising this vision.

The Baton of Hope is unprecedented – believed to be the UK’s largest-ever suicide prevention initiative. The Deputy Lieutenant worked extensively with the Baton of Hope team and Lambeth council to make sure it stopped off in the borough and given that Lambeth is home to the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ community – and the impact of suicide and mental health for that community it was key to make sure that they were represented as part of this event.

Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Lambeth, Christopher Wellbelove, had the honour of bringing the #batonofhope into the gardens of St Thomas’ Hospital for the event as drag act Mrs Moore sang Labi Siffre’s So Strong. 

They heard from Councillor David Brindson about his experiences as a gay man, members from Mosaic Clubhouse spoke about their work and Councillor Jim Dickson, Cabinet member for health and wellbeing spoke about the council’s new suicide prevention strategy and the importance of various bodies to work together.. 

Representative Deputy Lieutenant joined by Mayor of Lambeth and councillors

Pek-San Tan from the anti-hate crime charity 17-24-30 spoke of the impact of hate crimes on people’s mental health.

The Deputy Lieutenant, Christopher Wellbelove, spoke of his own experience of suicide and his work to raise awareness of the UK’s biggest killer of men and women under 35. He spoke of how in that time he had heard from so many who had lost loved ones through suicide.

He talked of how so many more stories go untold due to stigma, with the wish not to burden others and so many more reasons. Each weighs heavy on so many souls.

But he ended with a note of hope, of how by encouraging more discourse and getting people to work together that we could one day reach the goal of zero suicides.