A family shared the last "joyful" picture of a 26-year-old before he ended his life - because they wanted to show that people with suicidal thoughts may look perfectly happy on the outside.
The last images of Steffan Rees show nothing but contentment as he teaches his baby niece the words to "If You're Happy and You Know It".
His sister Sian, from Cardigan, West Wales described her younger brother as the "life and soul of the party" and someone who "lit up the room" when he walked in. This was one of the many reasons why his suicide was such a shock, and what has driven his devastated sister to use her deep-seated sorrow to help others, reports WalesOnline.
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Sian said: "I couldn't have asked for a better brother. He was only 26, had a loving family, a beautiful girlfriend, and didn't say anything about having any mental health issues."
Since his death Sian has tried to find positives. Together with widows Lisa and Ana, who have also been bereaved through suicide, they have taken part in a UK awareness campaign. New research from suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) has found that 61% of people would struggle to tell if someone they knew felt suicidal.
The charity wants to raise awareness that the "face of suicide" isn’t always crying and being recluse – a person might seem happy on the outside, and to illustrate this, the charity has unveiled an exhibition on London's Southbank called The Last Photo.
The outdoor gallery displays 50 smiling photos taken in the last days of people who died by suicide. It also shares the stories of shock and grief their families and friends experienced.
A photograph of Steffan forms part of the moving exhibition, as do the pictures of Peter Hammett, from Swansea, and Lee, from Tenby. Tragically, the latest figures show that 125 people die by suicide every week in the UK – but it can be hard to spot the signs something isn't right.
The picture of Lee. who was 41 when he died, was taken in Castell Henllys, Pembrokeshire, on a "wonderful" day out with friends said his. widow. She added: "As most bereaved by suicide will say, someone, smiling and joking, being cheeky or very polite, doesn't mean they are not suicidal. Unfortunately, it has been very hard to make employers, service providers, mental health services, and the public understand this.
"I will never forget those beautiful smiles of those beautiful people… beautiful children, beautiful women, handsome men, different ages, different genders, different social classes, different ethnicities, proof that suicide can happen to anyone. The shadows of the leaves moving with the wind and the sun created movement in the photos. I kept looking and hoping that they would start moving..
"And even though it was so comforting to see a life-size picture, I found it so hard to leave the exhibition; I wanted to bring him home with me, we miss Lee so much!"
She added: "Things have moved on a lot in recent years, but there is a lot of stigma around suicide. People would say things like he is your husband, you live with him, how did you not see it, some people blame you for it, others don't know what to say."
Peter Hammett had celebrated 33 years of marriage just months with wife Lisa just before he died. She said: "Peter's death was such a shock to so many. For friends, family and colleagues he was always jovial. He had issues, but he hid them so well. The year 2018 had started out so well, but those issues got the better of him.
"When he died, I didn't think I was going to be able to live. It wasn't even taking each day at a time, it was taking each moment at a time. I am not the person I was before it happened, but what helps is trying to help others.
"In London. it was interesting to hear what people walking past were saying about the photos, some thought it was to do with Covid, or they were missing people and even an advertisement for iPhones. Not one of them guessed suicide.
"When Peter died I was determined to make a stand against the stigma associated with suicide and for his death not to be in vain. I'm so proud we all took part in CALM's The Last Photo campaign. We hope all our stories make a difference and ultimately save lives."
Talking about the Last Photo exhibition, Simon Gunning, CEO of CALM, said: "People tend to think they already know what suicidal looks like – reclusiveness, crying, silence etc – and if they don’t see these traits in someone they’re worried about, they hesitate to intervene.
"In reality, suicidal behaviour takes many forms.
"People struggling can put on a mask concealing their inner turmoil before taking their own lives.
"CALM’s aim is to highlight this fact and equip people to take collective action.
"If we can all start one conversation with our friends and family about suicide, together we can smash the stigma that surrounds it."
For confidential support the Samaritans can be contacted for free around the clock 365 days a year on 116 123.
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