Sian Retter's memorial fundraiser for mental health a success

More than £400 has been raised for Mind, the UK’s top mental health charity, by a Balderton woman.

Sian Retter held a coffee morning and play session at Balderton Methodist Church Hall on Saturday in memory of her brother, Steffan Rees, who took his own life in November last year, aged 26.

The event saw children’s entertainment provided by Caterpillar Music, a cake sale, a tombola, and a raffle with plenty of prizes donated by local businesses.

Sian, mother to Nancy, 3, and 16-week-old Alice, wanted to raise money for Mind, and also encourage men to talk about mental health.

Around 90 people went along to the event, which raised £450 for Mind.

Sian said: “We raised a lot more than I was expecting. I said to my friend that I would be happy if we raised £200 so I was really surprised when we raised over £400.”

Sian said that no one in the family had any idea that Steffan was suffering from mental health problems because he never told anyone.

“I spoke to him just the night before he died and he seemed fine,” she said. “He had a lovely girlfriend and a great job, and we couldn’t believe it.

“Now this has happened to us, and we never thought it would, we realise it happens all the time.”

According to mentalhealth.org.uk, 75% of suicides in the UK are male, and this is the highest cause of death in men between the ages of 20 and 49.

“There’s still a stigma around it,” said Sian.

“And men are always being told to ‘man up,’ which I hate, and it’s bringing up children to think that men shouldn’t cry, or talk about their feelings.”

To find out more, or to receive help, visit www.mind.org.uk/