A DOCTOR from Brecon plummeted 12,000 feet on his birthday to help raise vital funds for a national charity dedicated to helping save young lives after seeing “too many young suicides” in his career.

GP Mark Heneghan took part in the skydive at Swansea Airport on his 63rd birthday on Saturday, September 11, to fundraise for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide.

The GP was taken around 39,370 metres up into the air before leaping from the aircraft - with his instructor strapped to his back - and free-falling for 40 seconds before using the parachute.

Dr Heneghan said: “I have always wanted to do a skydive and when I heard about the opportunity to do it for this wonderful charity I decided it was now or never. I set myself a target of raising £5,000 and I’m more than half way there!”

In the UK, suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35-years-old. Every year, more than 1,600 young people take their own live - more than 200 are schoolchildren and more than 90 are university students.

PAPYRUS is the national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide - PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK is a confidential helpline that provides practical advice and support to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned that a young person may be experiencing thoughts of suicide.

He said: “Supporting PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is very important to me because every day in my work I see young people who are struggling. I have seen too many young suicides during my career, one is too many.

“The impact of a young suicide is devastating. It affects family, friends and the whole community to be honest, the pain never goes away, with time people learn to live with their loss, but it’s still hard.

“I’m really looking forward to raising money for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide & I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me.”

HOPELINEUK is staffed by trained professionals and offers a telephone, text and email service. PAPYRUS also offers training, delivers regional outreach programmes and campaigns, as well as influencing national policy.

Head of PAPYRUS in Wales Kate Heneghan said: “Our supporters and fundraisers provide a huge part of our income, which means we are able to continue our vital work reaching out and supporting young people at risk of suicide, extending our community

work and suicide prevention training. There is no doubt that this support will make a difference.”

Dr Heneghan’s skydive was just after Friday, September 10 which marked World Suicide Prevention Day around the world. In 2021, one in four people suffer with a mental health condition and one in five people in the UK experience suicidal thoughts.

It is not too late to donate to Dr Heneghan’s fundraiser - which has raised £2,610 at the time of going to print - which can be found on the Just Giving website by clicking here.

For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice contact PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK via using 0800 068 41 41, text using 07786 209 697 or by emailing email [email protected]. In an emergency always call 999.

For more information or if you’d like to volunteer for PAPYRUS contact [email protected].