⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses suicide and childhood bereavement. Please take care when reading.
This morning, we saw the powerful story of Evie shared on Sky News – a 16-year-old who bravely delivered a school assembly on suicide after losing her father at the age of nine.
Her decision to speak up came after hearing peers joke about suicide, a reminder that while these conversations may feel uncomfortable, they are deeply needed.
At Edward’s Trust, we meet children, young people, and families every day who are navigating the pain of bereavement – including deaths by suicide. We know the courage it takes to talk about these losses. Evie’s voice is a powerful example of what can happen when young people are supported to speak their truth.
Suicide is often surrounded by silence, stigma, or misunderstanding. But grief needs space – space to be heard, understood, and held without judgment. By sharing her story, Evie not only honoured her dad’s memory but opened the door for others to reflect with empathy rather than humour or discomfort.
As bereavement counsellors, we are here to support anyone struggling with grief, including those affected by suicide. We offer qualified counselling and holistic wellbeing support for bereaved children and families across the West Midlands, without time limits, and without judgment.
Let Evie’s bravery be a reminder that grief doesn’t have to stay silent. Together, we can help create a world where stories like hers are met with compassion – and where no child feels alone in their loss.
If you need support, or if you’re concerned about a child or young person who has been bereaved, please reach out to us at Edward’s Trust.
Call us on 0121 454 1705 or email at admin@edwardstrust.org.uk
“Just an ordinary boy with an extraordinary amount of courage”—that’s how Edward, the boy behind our name, is remembered. We see that same courage in young people like Evie every day.
