A SUICIDE prevention campaigner has been working relentlessly to break the stigma and get people talking.

Mick Rowe, 53, founded Suicide Sucks after her brother, James, took his own life at 27 years old in 1996.

She said that it took years to comprehend but a couple of years ago she decided she wanted to do something about the stigma around suicide and so her organisation began.

Her first project was making a documentary by posting on Facebook to residents of Penistone and asking them to share their stories.

Overwhelmed by the response, she was able to produce a 30 minute documentary featuring the experiences of those in her local area.

Following the success of the documentary, she started her own podcast ‘Here to Tell the Tale’ where she speaks more to people about their experiences or work they do regarding suicide prevention.

The interviews take place in Mick’s camper van alongside her dog, making a relaxed and comfortable environment for people to open up.

The work, however, does not stop there Suicide Sucks also runs wellbeing sessions in the Barnsley community this includes the Silent Stompers sessions.

These are silent disco sessions that take place both indoors and outdoors to allow people to let loose.

Mick said: “It is a combination of music and movement that people just find to be so liberating.

“It is something about being outdoors and just completely letting yourself go that people really enjoy.”

Suicide Sucks also have been running an annual comedy night and are in the process of finishing a Voices of Hope Exhibition that will take place on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day.

This exhibition will spotlight nine voices from the podcast who inspired nine different artists to create two pieces for each person; one to represent the person’s struggle and another to highlight the hope for what lies ahead.

They have also each had portraits taken of themselves by Kathryn Simpson of Bumblebugs Photography.

Speaking on the branding of the organisation, Mick told the Chronicle that the language is intentionally ‘prominent and unavoidable’ to really force people to talk in order to break the stigma.

She said: “If I wear the hoodie with Suicide Sucks on it out then nine times out of ten someone will come up and talk to me.

“Whether they open up about themselves, or a loved one or even just say ‘yeah, it really does suck’.

“It just gets people talking and opening up.”

The organisation’s most recent campaign is called ‘Have You Got Eight Minutes, Mate?’

The idea is that this phrase becomes coded language for people to say ‘I need help’ without having to say it so blatantly.

They plan to launch the campaign primarily to barber shops, salons and tattoo parlours asking them to put up posters and hand out pledge cards.

They have chosen this industry to kick off the launch as already these are the jobs that find clients unintentionally opening up and letting off steam.

Mick said: “People can get involved just by offering a listening ear.

“They don’t have to fix anything or solve people’s problems or recommend professionals.

“It is just about dropping everything and giving eight minutes on a phone call to simply listen.”

For Mick this organisation has been a source of healing on her own journey and that connecting with people that get it has been so impactful.

She said that because ‘it is a different type of grief’ having people relate and open up really does make the world of difference.

She has also found it easier to open up about her own mental health struggles as a result of so many people opening up to her.

For her work and the impact it has had on the community she has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award.