A powerful video has been released sharing the stories of Kent people bereaved by suicide and their contribution to a memorial quilt remembering those they have lost.
The brave family members who took part in the film, created by STAK.life { Stefan’s Acts of Kindness) founders Emma and Tristan Kluibenschadl, are among those who have created 66 squares for the Kent Speak Their Name Memorial Quilt.
Each square represents the unique memories of the family or friend who has died. The majority of those represented on the quilt are male. The youngest to be remembered was just 13 years old and a high percentage of those lost were neurodivergent (Autism/ADHD).
Among the 14 people who share their loss in the film is Emma Kluibenschadl, of STAK.life, whose son Stefan was just 15 when he ended his life after suffering workplace bullying and being failed by health services.
The STAK.life CIC was created by Emma and Tristan as a reflection of Stefan’s empathy for others. It works across fundraising and events; training for professionals, parents and businesses on Autism and Mental Health; awareness raising and talks on neurodivergence and neuro -affirming practices and workshops and groups that provide creative, therapeutic support for neurodivergent young people and those people experiencing grief and loss in Thanet.
The Margate couple were also the driving force behind the Kent Speak Their Name quilt.
Louise Knight, from Broadstairs, also features, speaking of her son Gabriel Farmer who tragically took his life in May 2023, aged just 23.
Louise had desperately sought support but Gabriel was left without the professional intervention that may have helped him. He had been incorrectly discharged from QEQM Hospital as ‘low risk’ after a suicide attempt and sadly took his life just eight days later.
In the two years since Louise has advocated for better mental health provision and last March she had a bench installed in memory of her son with the aim of being a comfort to his friends but also a place for anyone who is feeling low to sit and find help via a display of a poem and support numbers.
The emotional film aims to raise awareness of the importance of suicide prevention by speaking the names of those lost.
The video comes ahead of the unveiling of the Kent Speak Their Name Memorial Quilt at Dreamland on Monday (September 22).
Trigger Warning- this film contains responses to suicide loss.
The unveiling is part of the Baton of Hope tour visiting Kent and Medway to raise awareness of suicide prevention support, call out suicide stigma and celebrate absent loved ones and those who have been able to find hope and stay with us.
More than 130 local residents will take it in turns to carry the campaign’s Olympic-torch style baton through Medway, Maidstone, Canterbury and Thanet on Monday.
The quilt will then travel around venues in Kent from October
The Thanet stretch of the Baton of Hope Tour
5.15pm: The Community Driving School takes the baton by car to Margate
6.10pm: Starting at Nayland Rock Shelter the baton is accompanied by a marching band along the seafront, pausing at Margate Steps and Turner Contemporary before heading along the Harbour Arm, then back into Margate’s Old Town for ‘Afternoon of Hope’ event that will already be in full swing.
6.55pm: The baton makes its final journey of the day, from Old Town to Dreamland.
7.30pm: The day ends with the ‘Evening of Hope’ finale. Memorial quilt unveiling. Acts will include Britain’s Got Talent’s dance group Midlife Movers‘ and World Slam Poetry Champion Harry Baker. This event is now sold out.
In total the Baton of Hope Tour 2025 will visit 20 locations around the country – starting in Blackpool on 1 September and ending in Wrexham on 4 October ahead of a finale in Westminster, London, on 10 October.
