Expert Speakers To Provide Support To Survivors Of Bereavement By Suicide

The Manchester office of national law firm Irwin Mitchell is set to host a conference for charity Survivors Of Bereavement By Suicide (SOBS) that intends to improve the support available for those bereaved by suicide.

The event, which will be the first conference the charity has run in the North West, will take place at the law firm’s Bauhaus offices in Manchester city centre on Saturday 14 May and will include speakers who can help those dealing with the sudden death of a relative or loved one.

Guest speakers will include Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, Steve Carter and Phil Pitchford, Kings Chambers barrister Richard Borrett and Ayse Ince, a specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who has represented the families of those affected by suicide, and Greg Shaw from West Yorkshire Police.

Topics will include new police protocols, engaging men on the issue of suicide, growth after trauma and the inquest process.

Ayse Ince, an expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said:

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“Through my work I have represented a number of families affected by suicide through failures and neglect of services that failed to understand the support some people require.

“We hope that by sponsoring this event and hosting it in our Manchester office that we will be able to improve the level of support available for those struggling with the many complex issues that leave people feeling rather hopeless.

“I have worked very closely with SOBS in the work that I have done in the past and I understand just how important the work they do to support those bereaved by suicide.” Ayse Ince - Associate Solicitor

Viv Culpan, SOBS group leader, Bradford said: “We are extremely thankful to Irwin Mitchell for hosting our first conference in the North West and hope that the event will help improve the support for those affected by suicide.

“Each year more than 6000 people in the UK take their own life and we are determined to support as many people as possible who are deeply affected by the sudden loss of a loved one or relative.

“We hope that by running events like this we will increase public awareness of the impact suicide can have and to ensure it is seen as the major public health issue.”