A County Durham mum who suffered a double tragedy after both of her children took their own life has called for more action to prevent other families' heartbreak.

Tracey Beadle, from Shildon, lost her 'beautiful' daughter Quinn, 17, in December 2018 when she tragically took her own life.

But her family faced further heartbreak when her son Dyllon, 21, died by suicide just ten months later after being “unable to carry the burden of grief on his shoulders”.

Read more: North East suicide rates are the worst in the UK

Tracey has joined calls for more to be done to prevent more families facing tragedy as The Northern Echo figures revealed stark figures behind the mental health crisis.

Mrs Beadle told The Northern Echo: “We used to be a family of four but now we’re a family of two.

“Dyllon just couldn’t carry the burden of grief on his shoulders any longer after his sister took her own life.

The Northern Echo: Dyllon and Quinn Beadle. Picture: FAMILYDyllon and Quinn Beadle. Picture: FAMILY

“It has been incredibly tough for us. When you have children, even from the moment you find out you’re pregnant, you imagine everything in their future from them going to university to meeting a partner and having a family of their own. That has been ripped away from us.

“We know that people who lose loved ones to suicide are more likely to take their own lives but there’s hardly any support or funding going towards supporting them.

“We need more support for relatives and better education around suicide to break down the stigma around talking about it.”

The Northern Echo:

Research carried out by University College London in 2016 found that those who suddenly lose a friend or family member are 65 percent more likely to attempt suicide if their loved one took their own life, as opposed to dying by natural causes.

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Tracey also called for better school education around suicide, questioning why it is not on the national curriculum along with other well-being topics such as sex education.

Since Quinn’s death, Tracey and their husband David have founded charity Quinn’s Retreat, offering respite to others affected by suicide in a caravan at Barnard Castle.

Tracey added: “When we lost Quinn her funeral was the Friday before Christmas and we’d been booked to go away for a week over Christmas to a holiday cottage.

“Dyllon was the one who persuaded us to still go and we laughed and cried so much while we were away. It’s sometimes good to get away from where people know you and what’s happened and to just have space.

“At the charity we’ve got two caravans now which are available for free to families and those struggling with their mental health to get away and get into a different headspace.

Read more: LIVE: The North East mourns the loss of the Queen; updates from the region

“The demand has been huge, they’re booked up til Christmas and going into next year.”

Last December Tracey won the Unsung Hero Award for her work at The Northern Echo’s County Durham Together Awards.

If you are in need of support you can contact the following:

- Samaritans is available, day or night, 365 days of the year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.

- If U Care Share on 0191 387 5661 or text IUCS to 85258

- SANE on 07984 967 708, Calm on 0800 58 58 58

- Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust crisis line 0800 0516 171.

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