Gathering of Hope: The Lived Experience Network create a space to remember, reflect and pause
To mark National Suicide Memorial Day for Healthcare Workers, the Lived Experience Network held a Gathering of Hope to honour those we have lost to suicide and to share a message of hope and solidarity.
The Network also unveiled their new memorial bench – next to their memorial tree planted last October – creating a space for remembrance, reflection, support, hope and connection.
The bench was mostly funded by Maudsley Charity’s Changemakers Grant Programme and made by an organisation called Legend on the Bench, which was set up and is run by a family who experienced loss by suicide.
These benches are handmade and placed across the UK. The metal plaques on the bench contain QR codes with links to mental health and suicide support, including our 'Help in a Crisis' page and a link to a visual and audio 'Letter of Hope' which was written jointly by service users and LEN members.
Deborah Paynter, Chair of the Lived Experience Network and Clinical Nurse Specialist said: “By having this memorial tree and bench on the Bethlem site to honour colleagues lost to suicide, we hope that it will also highlight that conversations about mental health and suicide really matter, and to anyone struggling with their mental health, we want to let them know - you are not alone".
"A huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of creating this very special place. A huge thank you to Maudsley Charity and Changemakers for funding the bench, Derek Tracy for supporting this event and the Lived Experience Network, Mark West and Tony Whitfield for their incredible help with getting the tree planted and the bench installed and the team at Legend on the Bench for creating something so meaningful."
During the gathering, Marcia Townsend from our Chaplaincy team shared some words offering a reminder of hope and that it grows best in the community with connection. Laura Jane-Connolly, Deputy Chair of the Lived Experience Network also shared a poem she had written for the event.
Laura-Jane said: “As a Network that focusses on supporting staff with their mental health, we hope that having this bench will become a place for staff, service users and members of our local community to take a moment for themselves – to remember someone, to talk, or simply to sit and be.
For us, it is also about encouraging conversations around mental health and suicide, reducing stigma, raising awareness, and reminding people that reaching out for support is a sign of strength. Having this permanent space at Bethlem Royal Hospital means that the message of hope, connection, and remembrance will continue for many years to come.”
The bench is next to the memorial tree - a paper bark maple - planted last year by the LEN. This tree was specifically chosen for its symbolism.
It is a hardy, resilient tree, representing the strength of those who experience mental distress and of those left behind after suicide. It grows slowly, reflecting the non-linear and gradual nature of recovery. In the autumn, its leaves turn vivid shades of orange and scarlet, a reminder of the vibrant lives that we are remembering.
The network will be hosting this event yearly as a space to remember those we’ve lost, remind ourselves of the struggles we have overcome and reflect.
Find out more about the Legend on the Bench project. Our staff can find out more about the Lived Experience Network on Maud.