Photo courtesy of Kathryn Simpson
A comedy night featuring a Britain’s Got Talent finalist took place on Friday, 30 years after the organiser’s brother took his own life, to address the stigmas around mental health and suicide.
Barnsley-based Community Interest Company (CIC), Suicide Sucks, hosted its second Stand Up To Suicide charity comedy night in Silkstone earlier this week, in an effort to “get people laughing”.
Mick Rowe, the founder of Suicide Sucks, lost her brother, James Tyrell, to suicide in 1996, 30 years to the day of the comedy night.
Mrs Rowe said: “It was quite a poignant moment.”
She has been campaigning and educating ever since, as she aims to improve people’s mental health wellbeing and get conversations started.
The event took place at Broad Close Farm campsite in Silkstone, the owner of which’s father also took his own life in 2024.
When asked about hosting it here, Mrs Rowe said the move “just felt right”.
“The guest speakers were just so open about sharing such deep stuff with strangers was just so powerful.”
Speaking at the event were Andy Wilson and Samii Soffe who shared their experiences with mental health and suicide and the pair both received standing ovations after they opened up to the crowd.
Mrs Rowe said: “This is what it is about, I’m getting emotional now, the fact that about 80 people in that room all understood, all connected and all were proud of that person stood on that stage could potentially give someone in that audience courage to get help.”
Comedians Julian Deane, Joe Zalias, Tommy North, and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Daliso Chaponda also made appearances, bringing a comedic side to a very tough topic.
Mrs Rowe is working to get more people talking about any issues they are experiencing, and feels comedy is a great place to start as it gets people talking without feeling shame or guilt.
Knowing the effect comedy can have on people in distress, Mrs Rowe said: “Humour is so healing, you’re going to leave feeling lighter than when you came in.”
The CIC is also crowdfunding for an educational video designed to get difficult conversations going between friends when times are tough.
The fundraiser recently passed £5000, and with so many people supporting the project, Mrs Rowe said: “I can’t actually believe it, it’s just absolutely amazing.”
