'There were no signs before my brother took his life'

The sister of a man who died by suicide has urged people who are struggling to talk during this festive period.

Tracy Caunt from Shrewsbury lost her brother Craig two years ago.

Charity SOS Silence of Suicide said nearly one in three people or their family members in the West Midlands had been impacted by suicide in some way.

Ms Caunt said there were "no signs" her brother had been struggling mentally before he died.

Information and support for those affected by mental health can be found at the BBC's Action Line website.

"There were no signs, well not for us anyway, because if there's signs you pick up on things... so you think you can help.

"But if there are no signs you can't pick up on anything can you," she said.

Ms Caunt described her brother as having a "heart of gold".

"He was a fantastic uncle and would have made a fantastic father," she added.

After her brother died, Ms Caunt started to attend a volunteer bereavement support group run by Shane Game.

It began two and a half years ago, following the death of Ms Game's two eldest sons.

Her eldest son, 28-year-old Ben, died following complications from a double lung and heart transplant in 2012.

Ten years later, Toby, 31, drowned in the River Severn in Shrewsbury.

"When I lost both my boys... I turned to drink because there wasn't any support out there".

What started in her front room has now grown, and Ms Game says she helps over 400 people around Shropshire with an urgent need for more volunteers.

"I wanted to create a safe place for people to come, be who they are, because everyone's grief is different," she added.

Both are urging people to speak up if they are feeling down and, like them, attend a seminar run by Shropshire Council and Samaritans, aiming to end the stigma around suicide.

The Samaritans' Loren Reeve said people often shied away from talking about suicidal thoughts with family and friends, due to fear of upsetting them or being questioned or judged.

"But some people just want to talk about it and in talking about it, we hope the way that we [Samaritans] structure conversations, it helps people explore other options".

Shropshire Council's suicide bereavement officer, Karen Griffiths, said suicide was so painful for families due to the unanswered questions.

She added that this time of year was particularly hard because "Christmas is everywhere".

"It is impossible to get away from this idealised family scenario, which just isn't reality.

"They can cope with birthdays and anniversaries as they get to chose how to do that, but Christmas is everywhere".

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