A mother who lost her son and sister-in-law to suicide within weeks has helped create a new support scheme for bereaved families in Scotland. Seonaid Stallan's son Dylan died by suicide aged 18 in October 2015, followed shortly by her sister-in-law Vanessa.
Seonaid believes Vanessa's life could have been saved with proper support after Dylan's death. The new pilot, funded by the Scottish government, will offer practical and emotional help to families bereaved by suicide for up to two years in NHS Highland and NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
The service will operate seven days a week, making initial contact within 24 hours of referral. Seonaid said her family was not asked how they were coping after Dylan's death, and she was unaware that those close to a suicide victim become an at-risk group.
The scheme is run by Scotland's National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group, with charities Penumbra and Support in Mind Scotland. Kevin Stewart, minister for mental wellbeing, said the pilot addresses the 'unanswered questions and unresolved issues' faced by bereaved families.
