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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
April Curtin

Belfast couple building bench for others who are struggling after baby loss

A Belfast couple are planning to build a special bench for others who are struggling with their mental health.

James Scott, 43, and Julie Scott, who live in the Greater Shankill area, lost their baby Faith back in 2010.

James says September 2 is a day with such a mix of joy and pain, where he and Jules celebrate their anniversary, for him it was the most special day of his life.

But on the same day five years later their baby was born sleeping.

"We were broken," James said.

"I was unaware of how this would impact our family, our relationship and me personally.

"But it was only years later that I became aware of why I became so traumatised, to the point of suicide."

James had suffered a lot of trauma in his childhood - with his parents struggling with poverty and depression.

His sister lost her first baby, whom James had looked after like his own, so he had already experienced the feeling of losing a child at the tender age of 21.

James and Julie with Benjamin, Jacob and Grace (Belfast Live)

When James and Julie lost their child Faith, they were not given the baby's body. Now, they have no headstone or grave for Faith, "nowhere to sit and reflect," as James said.

The couple battled years of grief and depression. James struggled on and off with drinking, and on a number of occasions, he planned to take his own life.

He tried to get help from his doctor and from church, but said he was made to feel ashamed for his feelings, and told to move on.

"There definitely isn't support for men," James said.

Eleven years later, and the couple are in a much better place.

James, who was originally an accountant, has trained as a community worker - helping others who are battling with alcohol, drug and mental health issues.

Julie has also got another job helping children with Special Education Needs.

The couple are the proud parents of five children - Leoni, 19, Cameron, 17, Benjamin, 11, Jacob, 7 and Grace, 4.

But while the pair have come a long way since they lost Faith, they will never forget their child, and would like a bench to be built in memory of the baby.

A design for the bench (Belfast Metal Design)

The bench will be Alice in Wonderland themed - to represent mental health. And the couple hope the bench will serve as a place for people to find peace and calm away from any struggles they are dealing with.

James said: "We need to understand what's needed to reduce the number of suicides in our community.

"We need a support network for those men and those women so they're not in a place where they feel alone.

"Every single one of us is vulnerable. Every single one of us can go through that. We need to be able to find the help and support and we need to be able to reach out and support each other."

You can donate to help fund the bench here.

Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Find more information on the Samaritans website.

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