Baton of Hope reaches Tameside to raise awareness around suicide
59 people died by suicide in Tameside between 2021 and 2023, according to the latest data by the Office for National Statistics
The Baton of Hope Tour is making its way through Tameside this morning, as part of the UK’s biggest suicide prevention initiative.
59 people died by suicide in Tameside between 2021 and 2023, according to the latest data by the Office for National Statistics. Tameside faces one of the highest suicide rates in Greater Manchester, with socio-economic challenges such as unemployment and social isolation contributing to mental health struggles.
Immediate awareness and suicide prevention efforts are key to saving lives – and it’s why the Baton of Hope is visiting Tameside, as part of its nationwide 2025 tour.
The tour will see a gold and silver baton representing mental wellbeing being carried by bereaved families and suicide survivors in a bid to challenge stigma and campaign for practical change.
Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50 and women under 35 in the UK, and yet many are not connected with mental health services before their death, highlighting the urgent need for community awareness and intervention.
When & where
The baton relay will start at the Anthony Seddon Centre, a mental health peer support charity created in memory of Anthony Seddon, who died by suicide in 2013.
The baton relay will visit locations throughout Tameside including Portland Basin Museum, Tameside Cycle Circuit, Hartshead Pike, Stamford Park and will finish in Cheetham’s Park for a grand finale which will bring the community together in unity, reflection, and hope.
What to expect
Community members will have the opportunity to listen to heartfelt stories of hope and survival, participate in performances and workshops, and attend the finale at Cheetham’s Park with speeches, support resources, and more.
The Baton of Hope
The Baton of Hope UK is a charity dedicated to suicide prevention. Through campaigning, public education and awareness, a series of pledges and lobbying, Baton of Hope aims to create change, give hope and save lives.
The charity was founded in 2021 by four men – two of whom are fathers who have lost their sons to suicide. One of the sons, Ross McCarthy, left a farewell letter imploring his father to fight for better mental health provision. Ross, who had suffered with severe depression, died two weeks after being put on a six-month waiting list for NHS therapy.
The charity has created a gold and silver baton – a symbol similar to the Olympic torch, but one that celebrates mental health and well-being instead of physical health. The founders believe that by taking the symbol around the UK it can help to galvanise individuals, companies and communities behind a shared mission to reduce suicide deaths.