A WOMAN has decided to turn her traumatic experience with suicide into a positive by helping others and preventing them going through what she had to.

Kitty Birtwistle, 38, decided to train as a suicide first aider following the death of her father, Daniel Birtwistle, who took his own life on February 5.

The Ulverstonian has undertaken courses as part of the Suicide Bereavement Support group for Cumbria, for whom she is now a facilitator, in order to help others through suicide bereavement.

This role means she takes an active role in the group in helping those struggling like she has in the past.

“Suicide Bereavement Support Group for Cumbria had just started a new group in Barrow before Covid happened,” she said.

“I was talking to others in the group and taking an interest in their experiences. So they asked if I would like to become a facilitator.

“So then I started to do the courses for this through them.

“This included how suicide is reported in the media, and helping children to deal with bereavement.

“My own mental health was struggling. I had to stop drinking and stop working.

“I was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. I was put on a waiting list for treatment, which got put up to a year from six months after lockdown.

“What inspired me to do this was my dad and my cousin’s wife taking their own lives.

“I just wanted to help people really.

“I don’t want other people to go through what I have been through.”

Miss Birtwistle's dad, Daniel Birtwistle was a well-known character in the area, and was widely known as Mr Ulverston for his various jobs and volunteer role he did around the town through the years.

This inspirational way of dealing with her family tragedies is something that has been commended by her siblings Ben and Sophie.

Sophie Birtwistle, Kitty’s twin sister, said: “I am so proud of my sister for turning her life around.

“She was struggling with her mental health and drinking but has stopped all that. She is amazing.”

An inquest into the death of their father, found Mr Birtwistle had died while on day release from the Dova Unit at Furness General Hospital.

The coroner was told following Mr Birtwistle's death the hospital trust had implemented changes so further deaths could be avoided.

The family said they were happy to hear changes have been implemented at the unit.

The Suicide Bereavement Support (SBS) was established in 2019 in Cumbria and is a volunteer-led service, with volunteers who have all been touched by suicide themselves, enabling them to connect with others.

Anyone needing support or someone to talk to is urged to reach out to Samaritans free on 116 123 from any phone.