“It is important to tackle the stigma… we should not be afraid to talk about it.”
A woman who has been bereaved six times by suicide will be among those carrying the Baton of Hope as its national tour reaches East Yorkshire. With the goal of saving lives, the baton is being borne around the country by those personally affected by suicide.
Alison Clark, from North Ferriby, has tragically lost six friends and colleagues to suicide during her career as a veterinary nurse. She is now a Vetlife Ambassador and admin support and mental health first aid trainer.
On Monday, September 15, Alison will be one of 11 baton bearers taking turns to carry the Baton of Hope from the Humber Bridge Car Park. She will also carry with her the memories and photographs of three sadly departed friends and colleagues: vet Cameron Gibson, vet Megan Brannigan, and vet nurse Stefan Matan.
These are her most recent bereavements, but she has lost a further three friends and colleagues to suicide. Alison said veterinary work – among the professions with the highest rates of suicide – poses significant mental health risks.
She told Hull Live: “People think all we do is cuddle puppies and kittens all day long, the reality is we are dealing with road traffic collisions, all sorts of emergencies. We deal with euthanasia as well, which takes its toll, it really does.
“It is antisocial hours, long hours, and there are lots of factors. It is absolutely the best job I have ever done and is fantastic, but it is very, very demanding.
“When I first started my nursing, rightly or wrongly, I thought I would just be working with animals. Unfortunately, you are working with humans.
“You are working with the owners who are absolutely emotionally involved with their animals and adore them. And then you have the other side, with people who are cruel to animals.”
Alison said Vetlife is like “the Samaritans for the veterinary community”. As well as mental health support, counselling and a 24/7 support line, the organisation offers financial support for vets who have fallen on hard times.
She implored people struggling to access mental health support through the NHS and their GP not to give up, and said there are many other organisations who can help. “There always is hope,” she said.
Alison said the Baton of Hope encourages honest conversations about mental health. “It is important to tackle the stigma around suicide and mental health, and we should not be afraid to talk about it.”
During her Baton of Hope walk, Alison will supported by friend Father Phil Lamb, a vicar known for his community service and mental health advocacy. He serves as the vicar of Sculcoates in Hull and oversees St Mary’s and St Paul’s churches.
The event at the Humber Wellbeing Hub at the Humber Bridge in Hessle runs from 3pm to 8pm, culminating in a candlelit vigil. It will be a space for remembrance, resilience, and connection.
There will be wellbeing stalls, creative workshops, and free semicolon tattoos, symbolising the choice to continue our stories. The movement hopes to break the silence, dismantle stigma, and open hearts to conversations that save lives.