By Emilia Randall

Copyright mirror

When Gemma first walked through the doors of the Martin Gallier Project (MGP), she “felt broken”. In the middle of a suicidal crisis, she was not sure she would come out the other side of it. Gemma had been “bounced around” services in the North of England before she landed with MGP, a non-clinical service supporting those across the North West dedicated to preventing suicide, breaking stigma and supporting families , including those bereaved by suicide. She was 29 when she was referred by another service because they “couldn’t help her.” Softly spoken, Gemma told the Mirror it was writing down her painful thoughts and burning them that finally changed the tides for her. Gemma said she remembered feeling “so nervous, so scared, and completely hopeless.” But as soon as she stepped inside her local MGP, “something felt different. It wasn’t clinical or intimidating, instead it felt safe, warm, even homely. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I was just another case.” Gemma said after 18 months, something “shifted”, and her final session with her support worker the biggest change happened at the volunteer’s unlikely suggestion. She said:” “I realised I no longer needed suicide as an option. In my final session, with my worker by my side, I wrote down every painful thought, every reason I once believed my life wasn’t worth living and then, I burned them. “Watching those words turn to ash felt like releasing years of weight I’d carried on my shoulders. In that moment, I chose life. Truly chose it. And life since then? It’s been more than I ever thought possible.” Gemma said she think the release came about because she had “bottled up a lot of things for so long and was never able to express what I had been through in a safe environment.” She said although she found the initial suggestion of writing down her thoughts and burning them “a bit of a crazy idea” she felt like she could get on with her life afterwards. This wasn’t the last time she used this unconventional method. She said: “I have written things down since – and have ripped it up and destroyed it when I’ve had negative thoughts.” At 34, Gemma’s life looks very different to how it did when she was first referred to MGP. She explained: “When I think back to the woman who first walked into MGP, I barely recognise her. She was scared, lost, and ready to give up. Now, I feel strong, hopeful, and excited for the future. “Now, I volunteer with Samaritans now, using my lived experience to sit with others in their darkest moments. I’ve been promoted at work. I bought my first home. I am now in a relationship. I’ve started training to become a counsellor.” But her journey started in her very first appointment when she did something that “terrified” her – she told the truth. She said: “I spoke about the suicidal thoughts that haunted me and the pain that had dragged me to that point. I expected judgment, or pity. Instead, I was met with compassion. My worker didn’t tell me what to do, she simply sat with me, listened, and offered me something I hadn’t thought possible. She called it a third option. Not to die. Not to just scrape by and survive. But to focus on being safe – just for now. “That idea changed everything. Together, we created a safety plan that gave me something I hadn’t had in a long time: a sense of control. At first, “safe” meant just getting through a week. One week. That felt possible. Slowly, those weeks turned into two, then four, then months. Each little step forward gave me strength I didn’t know I had. “Over time, I began to rebuild myself. I worked on my self-esteem, learned to show myself kindness, and set tiny goals that slowly pulled me toward the life I dreamed of. It wasn’t easy, there were hard days, scary days, but I was never alone in them. My worker walked alongside me the whole way. “What I’ve learned is that with the right support, support that is compassionate, patient, and person-centred, it is possible to move from despair to hope, from just surviving to truly living.” COO, Deryn Basnett said: “Gemma’s courage and resilience are nothing short of inspiring. Her journey from crisis to confidence reflects the strength she’s always had — it just needed the right space to be nurtured. We are so proud of Gemma and we were honoured to walk alongside her as she found her voice, her power, and a renewed sense of purpose.” MGP was started in 2019 by Martin Gallier’s daughter, Jessica Gallier, after her dad, Martin, lost his life to suicide. During the Coroners Court inquest hearings, Jessica represented her family in highlighting the gaps in care that led to Martin’s suicide. Building the service to fill the gaps she could see in her dad’s care, while juggling being a new mum to Leo who was only a few weeks old. The charity so far has achieved over 49,000 suicide interventions since launching and now employs 26 members of staff. For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org , visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.