How daunting it must have been, without legal knowledge and up against four experienced solicitors. Unrepresented families sometimes describe feeling that it is a "David and Goliath" situation.
This month we were invited to give evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee. Many of the questions and comments made by the committee related either directly or indirectly to the kind of support men in crisis are seeking.
"If you can't find the words after that, your silent presence and the giving of your time and attention communicate so much to the person. You clearly care. They matter to you. Their life matters to you."
"If we want to ensure that more patients survive after traumatic events, then crisis services need to have a trauma-informed approach."
This week the media published details of research which shows a link between climate change and suicide risk: extreme heat “profoundly affects the human mind”.
"I wanted to set up services which would be very different from anything that was currently available. My experiences showed me so clearly what was missing, and what was needed."
"Please seize the opportunity to help. Even if you doubt your capabilities to do so, you have more skills at hand than you realise."
"Despite a CAFCASS report documenting the domestic abuse, with dates of incidents, the judge gave custody of the younger children to the father."
"Mark said that he could have gone to see his GP about the most intimate and embarrassing physical health problem. But he couldn't tell him the things his wife had said to him on leaving him for another man."
You may not know that a person you encounter is feeling suicidal. They may simply appear vulnerable in some way.
Calum is grateful for the mental health input he is receiving. He has a very compassionate psychiatric nurse caring for him in prison, as well as a psychiatrist.
In terms of community care, we have demonstrated at our Suicide Crisis Centre that it is possible to provide a type of non-residential care which really can ensure that high-risk clients survive.