Mother's shock as suicide prevention charity folds

The mother of a teenager who tragically took her own life has expressed her shock at the collapse of a suicide prevention charity.

Debbie Hollinson, mother of Darcy, who died aged 17 in 2021 after a mental health battle exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has been fundraising for the charity Papyrus for several years to support its 24/7 helpline.

The events she has planned, including a gala evening in Tavistock Town Hall in October, and a Sahara trek in November, will still go ahead, but will support alternative charities, to be chosen later.

Debbie, speaking also on behalf of her husband Michael, said: “The fall-out from the collapse of Papyrus is clearly considerable. At the heart of this are the young people who will now miss out on 24/7 support from a helpline that has undoubtedly saved lives and the numerous services Papyrus offered.

“Suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people under 35 in the UK,” she added. “There is currently no alternative services in the suicide prevention world and that is truly terrifying.

“We are shocked and absolutely heartbroken. We will continue to fundraise via the events I have planned this year and ‘Team Darcy’ is firmly behind us.

“We would ask that everyone who has committed to coming to our events sticks with us and comes along. The suicide prevention, bereavement and mental health sector need us more than ever now.”

Administrators have been appointed to Papyrus following ‘an extended and extremely difficult period, for the charity. A spokesman for the charity said it had been ‘struggling’ to continue financially for two years and there was ‘no alternative’ but to close.

Debbie is staging a fundraising evening with a grand auction, a plant bingo and pizza on Thursday, October 1, at Tavistock Town Hall.

It begins at 6.30pm with the plant bingo, offering prizes of house plants and others, with pizzas and licensed bar. There will be an auction with lots such as a limited edition first edition print of the Beacon of Hope by Marcel Witte and holidays in Mousehole, Cornwall and at the Dartmoor Inn, Lydford.

For further details call Debbie Hollinson on 07970 614000 or email [email protected]

Darcy’s parents are also preparing to cross the Sahara Desert this autumn in her memory to raise funds and awareness to help prevent young suicide.

On Saturday, November 21, Debbie and Michael Hollinson will lead ‘Team Darcy’ on a 100-kilometre trek across the desert.

Her loss devastated her parents, brother and sister, friends and the Tavistock community. ‘Team Darcy’ was created so the way she died ‘would never be the whole story about her’, say her parents.

Darcy is remembered as bright, bubbly, determined, kind and funny. She loved horses and embraced new experiences.

Morocco was chosen because the last holiday Darcy shared with her dad was a trip to Marrakech for her sixteenth birthday. Follow ‘Team Darcy – 100km Across the Sahara Desert’ on Facebook and Instagram for event tickets and updates. Donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/page/100km-sahara-trek-one-step-at-a-time.