Support group hailed 'beacon of light in the dark'

WHEN issues in his marriage were added to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it all became too much for Sunderland dad and army veteran Steven Simpson. He made plans to end his life on two occasions, but in each case, support from the Newcastle-based suicide prevention centre James’ Place saved him.

- SAM VOLPE

Steven, 47, who served in the Royal Logistics Corps, is now part of a peer-support group based at the centre, in Summerhill Street, and which has been funded thanks to a donation from the Squires Foundation. Steven said: “I had made a plan to end my life - but that is what led me to James’ Place. There were two occasions - at the end of 2023 and then in June 2024.

“With the PTSD I have been through so many other services including with the NHS and, to be honest, I just thought this would be another one like it - with talking therapies that didn’t work.

“But when I walked in, frankly I thought it was the wrong place. ‘he staff were all smiling and welcoming, but it’s even the seats - you sit down and they're in comfortable chairs rather than the stiff clinical ones.”