Running for a cause

TRIGGER WARNING – NEWS ARTICLE CONTAINS MENTION OF SUICIDE.

In January 2025, a beloved and respected colleague at our Trust, John Pittam, took his own life. John had a long career as a psychiatric nurse and was a supportive union representative for many. He was surrounded by two daughters who he loved very much, an adoring wife, an abundance of friends and family who cared greatly for him, and had years of experience within mental health supporting others, but unfortunately, at that time in his lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression, John felt like his only choice was to take his own life. This, as you can imagine, came as a complete shock to all of those around John.

John’s family want to do all they can to spread the message that no feeling is final; situations, thoughts and feelings change and pass. They want no one else to feel as though there is no other option than suicide and that instead, support and help are out there. As part of the family’s work to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention, John’s son-in-law, Bradley, will be running the London Marathon in 2027 on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation, in John’s name.

If you would like to show your support for Bradley and the rest of John’s family, friends and colleagues in raising awareness of suicide prevention, and feel able to do so, please take a few moments to consider donating to Bradley’s official fundraising page: Mental Health Foundation: Brads London Marathon.

In the words of Bradley, “for all the John Pittam’s out there, please know that no feeling is final“.