A WOMAN whose son took his own life at the age of 36 is bringing a new charity walk to Scotland to raise money for organisations offering support to those affected by suicide and mental health issues.
More than 1,000 people have signed up to take part in the country's first Darkness into Light walk which will get under way in Glasgow this weekend.
It was spearheaded by Anne Rowan, whose son Christopher found himself unable to cope after suffering trauma and bereavement. Although she had sought help for him, Ms Rowan found that primary care was not the answer.
"It was down to me, as he was too ill to seek help himself," she said. "He could have had proper treatment, but I didn't know where to look. He saw his doctor, but was prescribed anti-depressants and told to come back in three months."
She does not blame the GP, though, and says more and different help is needed. She does not blame herself either, or accept that taking your own life should be shrouded in secrecy.
That is why she has brought the Darkness into Light walk to Scotland from Ireland, where it was established to help support Pieta House, a charity which runs refuges and offers counselling.
The aim is to raise money and put suicide and self harm on the agenda in Scotland, she said.
"Since I lost my son, nothing can touch me," she said. "But I am passionate about raising awareness. Suicide is the biggest killer of young men in Scotland, but there is such a stigma around it."
This year's 5k Darkness into Light walk will raise money for Pieta House and two Scottish Mental health charities, but Ms Rowan, the chairwoman and event coordinator for the walk, is now planning to fundraise to open Scotland's first crisis centre.
"Suicide is not the cowards way out, as some people say. We need to destigmatise it. These people are screaming for help. A crisis centre will help a lot of people and it might have helped Chris by guiding him to the right counselling or treatment."
The Darkness into Light walk, which is also taking place in Aberdeen this year as well as 80 other venues in six countries, will see hundreds of walkers, including many who have been touched by suicide in some way, set off by candlelight from Glasgow's Finnieston Crane in darkness at 4am tomorrow and walk through until dawn. It is being supported by a host of Scottish mental health charities including Choose Life, the Samaritans and Lanarkshire's Hope Cafe.
Lesley Reid, of Lanarkshire Action on Mental Health, said that with young men aged 17-24 at greatest risk of taking their own lives, it was important to raise awareness.
"If everybody was able to ask the question 'are you thinking about suicide?' it would save lives," she said.
"People avoid it because it is taboo, but it doesn't have to be. There is lots of training out there to help people have that kind of discussion."
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