A Morpeth man has spoken of the "devastating" day he was told his brother had taken his own life.
Two years on from the death by suicide of elder brother Stephen, Mark Summers wants to see better support for people with mental health problems and to highlight the "fantastic work" of two small charities.
Mark, 31, is looking to organise a charity event - which he promises will feature choreography to some of the brothers' favourite Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga songs - to showcase the support available from suicide prevention charities If U Care Share and Suicide&Co. Mark said his brother hadn't been given the support he needed, and he wants to do what he can to ensure others are not left in the same position.
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Stephen died by suicide on March 9 2021. He was just 31. Brother Mark - who has ADHD - believes Stephen also struggled with undiagnosed conditions, and said he was angry at the lack of support he felt he had received.
Mark - who is a hairdresser and has counselling qualifications - told ChronicleLive: "The main things I wanted to say are around the fact I am hoping to organise this event next year to raise awareness of the charities. For me it's important to get across that when my brother died I wasn't really offered the support that I maybe needed - and it's to say that that support is out there from charities like If U Care Share and Suicide&Co."
He said he was trying to "turn the pain into power" and spoke movingly of how important it was the people knew of charities like the two he has mentioned which can provide services such as bereavement counselling.
One thing Mark found cathartic was to write a letter to Stephen, which he found "incredibly helpful and a massive relief". In his letter, Mark said: "No matter what, I'll always be stood with you wherever you may be. There were so many things I wanted to say to you. You tried to thrive and in the end you just couldn't survive. May you always stay the one who is unconditionally loved by so many."
Mark added that he wanted to use organising an event in the next year to help others. He himself has struggled with his mental health, too. He said: "This is not just to do with Stephen. It's for all those people who don't get the support they need. I feel my brother was neglected and didn't get a chance.
"He wasn't a bad kid, he was well-educated. We need to do what we need to do with our time on earth. But I feel my brother just didn't get the treatment he needed. He was misunderstood. He never got the chance to become the person he wanted to be.
"Two years ago we received the most devastating news you can get. To sit there and see my mum so upset, and to be like that myself at being told I've lost my older brother, was so so difficult It affects me
"It would be amazing to help things change, but for me I don't think it's getting better. I think it's actually probably getting worse."
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