Renfrewshire Council

Each year residents and council colleagues are invited to remember those lost to suicide at a memorial service in front of Renfrewshire House. This year the ceremony takes place on Thursday 23 January at 4.15pm. 

From 3.30pm, inside Renfrewshire House Customer Contact Centre, there will be a space where you can write messages to lost loved ones. Your message is written on a purple heart, which you can hang on the memory tree during the ceremony. 

Afterwards, everyone is welcome to Paisley Abbey for a cuppa and a chat. 

About our Memory Tree 

The Memory Tree outside Renfrewshire House was first dedicated in 2010. It serves as a permanent memorial to those who have lost their lives to suicide. Our Memory Tree events give bereaved family and friends a chance to come together to remember lost loved ones. The event also hopes  to raise awareness of mental health issues and provide a supportive space for anyone who is struggling. 

Douglas Johnston, our Choose Life Coordinator, hopes that anyone who has a thought of suicide or is struggling with their mental health seeks support.   

"January can feel like a difficult month for everyone after the busy Christmas and New Year period and we know talking about our thoughts can help us feel better. 

"Bereavement by suicide is quite different from other types of bereavement. It can be a particularly painful and complex emotional experience. Often there are many unanswered and unanswerable questions. Remembering people lost together can be comforting. 

"Sadly, suicide can still feel like a taboo subject. This event offers people the chance to come together. It's a place to find support, share memories and celebrate the lives of lost loved ones. 

"In my role as Choose Life Coordinator, I help deliver training sessions to individuals and workplaces. These sessions help people learn  about mental health, suicide and self-harm. They also help to increase confidence around conversations with people who are struggling to cope. 

"Anyone who has been affected by suicide is welcome to come along to the event. There is no judgement, and the service is very relaxed. You can join us for a chat over a cuppa in Paisley Abbey afterwards, it's a nice environment to take stock and connect with others."  

If you are unable to attend the service but would still like to have a heart placed on the tree in memory of a loved one, please get in touch with Douglas at chooselife.sw@renfrewshire.gov.uk.   

Get support 

If you are having difficult thoughts or would appreciate some support for someone who may be feeling suicidal, please call one of the following helplines as soon as you can.  

Contact:  

• The Samaritan's on 116 123 
• Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 
• RAMH First Crisis on 0141 849 90 90 or 0500 829 093 

Access mental health support at work:

If you or someone you know is worried about mental health, you can speak to one of our Mental Health First Aiders. You can also arrange to speak to a counsellor from our employee assistance service, Time for Talking, which is free and available 24/7.   

Full details about employee mental health and other wellbeing supports can be found on our employee wellbeing hub online. This can be accessed from any device at any time, day or night. 

Visit our employee wellbeing hub. 
 

Published on Monday 20 January 2025