![\"Cordelia](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/3f52\/live\/426eb8f0-6ea0-11ef-aae5-a7098ec0dd1c.jpg.webp\")
Cordelia Ostler<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nA father has said his 24-year-old daughter\u2019s suicide hit him like a “depth charge” which “shred things in ways that are difficult to describe”.<\/p>\n One year on from Rhiannon\u2019s death, Gareth Williams wants other parents to know how “seriously dangerous” poor mental health can be.<\/p>\n The latest figures show the suicide rate in Wales in 2023 was the highest for a decade, with an average of about one every day.<\/p>\n Mr Williams’ comments come as a Welsh government-backed service is rolled out across Wales to support those affected by suicide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mr Williams said he had hoped Rhiannon\u2019s anxiety and depression were something time, counselling and GP support could heal, but said it was something he had “completely underestimated”.<\/p>\n “When you\u2019re living with somebody you don\u2019t notice these incremental changes. One of our regrets is why didn\u2019t we see this?” said the 60-year-old solicitor from Swansea.<\/p>\n “People say ‘it\u2019s not your fault’ but you\u2019re always going to carry that as a parent.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Rhiannon had been studying for a master’s degree in creative writing in London \u2013 she had always been a high achiever and had won multiple awards and prizes for her writing \u2013 but her parents said she left London abruptly to move back home.<\/p>\n She was getting professional support for her mental health but her family had noticed a deterioration in the months before her death.<\/p>\n However, Mr Williams and his wife Rachael only later discovered the notes in Rhiannon\u2019s private diaries referencing online sites she had used to meticulously plan taking her own life.<\/p>\n It is an avenue that is still being investigated ahead of a future inquest, but has left Mr Williams concerned even his daughter\u2019s bedroom could be “a dangerous place” where her parents were powerless to control what their adult daughter was doing online.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The couple and Rhiannon\u2019s two younger brothers were offered support by the Jac Lewis Foundation<\/a>, a charity which has been commissioned by Welsh government to host the new national advice service.<\/p>\n Mr Williams explained the counselling helped with “the feelings of guilt that I think are probably stronger for this kind of bereavement than others”.<\/p>\n “I call it a depth charge, because it\u2019s very private – like it\u2019s below the water.<\/p>\n “But you just have to re-build and look at the positives. As parents we\u2019re very conscious that we have to make sure our two sons know that life goes on.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gwyn Augustus is lead liaison officer for the new national advisory liaison service<\/a> and said from each suicide they typically collect between six and 10 referrals for individuals who may need support.<\/p>\n Immediate, free counselling is available when required, as well as play therapy for children – as research has shown adults bereaved by suicide are at higher risk of attempting suicide themselves.<\/p>\n “If we can save one life over the term of the project it would be worth it, but to date I\u2019m sure we\u2019ve already done that,” said Mr Augustus.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s been mentioned many a time that we\u2019ve contacted people at their most upset and they\u2019re considering undertaking something themselves.<\/p>\n “To be able to step in during those sensitive times is vital for their wellbeing.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Scott Lever facilitates some of the group sessions run by the Jac Lewis Foundation in Swansea. He became a counsellor after losing his own father to suicide in 2014.<\/p>\n “There’s so much stigma around suicide that people don’t really talk about it – people don’t know how to talk about it, and that can create barriers to accessing support too,” he said. <\/p>\n “But in the group sessions you can see people almost ‘decompress’ when they realise other people are going through similar feelings and experiences.”<\/p>\n He said having that level of “authenticity” in the room can help people “really offload” what they are truly feeling. <\/p>\n “Seeing how this service is changing the way people are supported… I’m proud to be part of that because it’s something I recognise I really needed at the time too.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n The suicide rate was highest for men in their late 40s and for women in their early 50s.<\/p>\n The Welsh government is due to launch its refreshed suicide prevention and self-harm strategy by the end of the year.<\/p>\n Since its launch in December 2022, the NHS Wales 111 press 2 service, which offers immediate mental health support, has taken more than 116,000 calls.<\/p>\n Minister for mental health and early years, Sarah Murphy, said the growing rate of suicide in Wales needs to come down and said prevention was key.<\/p>\n “Hearing that children as young as four are getting counselling for as long as they need \u2013 play and music therapy \u2013 I think that\u2019s also a huge part in breaking that trauma cycle,” she said. <\/p>\n “We want to ensure all those who are affected receive timely, compassionate and effective support where and when they need it.<\/p>\n “Through the ongoing development and implementation of our suicide and self-harm prevention strategy we will explore what more can be done to prevent suicide in Wales.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Need help? If you have been affected by this story the <\/i>BBC Action Line<\/i><\/a> web page features a list of organisations which are ready to provide support and advice.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"Gareth](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/7dbb\/live\/06d74b50-6e95-11ef-84a5-7f81c09ec94f.jpg.webp\")
Gareth Williams<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Gwyn](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/e1e4\/live\/45682300-6ec5-11ef-b253-652912eb2430.jpg.webp\")
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