A memorial stone for those who lost their lives to suicide will be unveiled in Bury. 

The stone, commissioned by community arts centre The Big Fandango, is due to be unveiled on World Suicide Awareness Day on Saturday, September 10 at Castle Leisure Centre on Bolton Street.

A vigil and a walk of remembrance, led by Bloco Ashe drummers through Kay Garden, will commemorate those who have died before the stone is unveiled.

Members of the community are encouraged to join the walk and help in holding the 47 flags that will represent the lives lost in the borough over the past three years.

Director at The Big Fandango, Rebecca Jackson, said: “We are organising the vigil because we believe that although we are generally getting better in talking about mental health there is still a huge amount of stigma around suicide and still a distinct lack of support for the families left behind.”

The Big Fandango on Bolton Street puts suicide prevention at the forefront of its work and runs a monthly peer support group for families bereaved by suicide.

Rebecca said: “Earlier this year we received funding from Bury’s Health Improvement fund to run monthly suicide prevention training courses, already over 120 people have taken part in this life-saving training.”

Despite attempts to reduce suicide rates around the UK, it remains the biggest killer of middle-aged men and young people aged under 25.

The Big Fandango commissioned the stone and organised the walk with the council and Bury Samaritans to provide a place of remembrance for bereaved families and friends who lost someone to suicide.

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