Jersey Families Take Part in Suicide Prevention Relay

Nearly 30 Jersey residents who have lost loved ones to suicide joined a national initiative on Sunday, carrying the Baton of Hope to raise awareness of mental health and start conversations around suicide prevention.

The Baton of Hope UK, a charity founded by bereaved fathers in 2021, brought an Olympic-style torch to towns and cities across the British Isles. The baton serves as a symbol of mental wellbeing and support for those affected by suicide.

Jersey was the 16th stop on the tour’s 20-location route. Islanders took part in a relay that spanned the island, from Albert Quay to Corbière Lighthouse, with hundreds joining to show support and reflect on their own experiences of bereavement.

Adam Hodgkins, who lost his 33-year-old son Benjamin to suicide in 2017, was among the baton bearers. He described the experience as a mix of “joy, hope, sadness, grief, and guilt,” adding that walking alone for part of the relay gave him a moment to reflect on his son.

“joy, hope, sadness, grief, and guilt,”

Benjamin, Hodgkins said, should be remembered for the bright, joyful person he was before his struggles with mental illness. “It’s been an emotional experience, but not all in a sad way,” he said.

Mike McCarthy, who lost his son Ross to suicide nearly five years ago, helped launch the Baton of Hope to turn grief into action. Ross’s final message urged his father to advocate for better mental health support. “When I got back on my feet, that sentence resonated with me every day,” McCarthy said. “I pledged with other bereaved dads to fulfill what was effectively my son’s dying wish.”

The day concluded with members of the fire service carrying the baton up to Corbière Lighthouse, marking the end of the Jersey leg of the tour.