Mother’s Fear of Daughter Being Forgotten Drives Quilt Project for Suicide Remembrance

A woman who spearheaded the creation of a remembrance quilt for individuals lost to suicide expressed her deepest concern that her daughter would “be forgotten.” Jayne Walsham, residing in Humshaugh, Northumberland, initiated a project to develop a “Speak Their Name” quilt specifically for the county. Her daughter, Jodi Jayne Walsham, passed away in January 2021 following challenges with her mental health during the Covid pandemic. Mrs. Walsham characterized her daughter as “caring, compassionate, quirky, colourful, beautiful and hilarious.” “She had the temper of the Tasmanian devil, but she lit up every room she went in,” Mrs. Walsham stated. Mrs. Walsham recounted having previously contributed a square to a Yorkshire quilt, citing a connection through her husband’s family originating from Sheffield. Initially, she believed it “wasn’t the right time” for her to participate in a North East iteration, but subsequently resolved “to do one just for Northumberland.” “The quilt and its message – Speak Their Name – means just that, come up to me and talk about Jodi, that’s what I want,” she explained. Composed of 35 squares, the quilt includes contributions where some families have provided two or three, crafted either independently or during dedicated workshops. Mrs. Walsham noted, “We’ve met people who have never met another person who have lost a loved one or family member to suicide.” She added, “It brings people together, it creates community and that creates resilience and that’s what we need to keep going.” Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that the North East region records one of the nation’s highest suicide rates, with figures showing a 15.1% increase from 2022 to 2023. Mrs. Walsham commented, “People are worried about upsetting you by saying your child’s name but the reality is that it’s worse when they don’t.” The quilt is currently exhibited at The Sill at Once Brewed, located near Hexham, until December 27, after which it will move to various other locations throughout 2025. For individuals affected by the themes discussed in this report, resources are available via BBC Action Line. Updates from BBC North East can be followed on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas may be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites and provides information regarding its approach to external linking.