Leeds nurse and mum's mission to help families affected by suicide after her husband and daughter took their own lives

The 54-year-old, who works as a head of nursing at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, lost her husband Ian to suicide in 2015 and then, devastatingly, four years later, her youngest daughter Beth took her own life at the age of 26.

She describes the tragedies as having changed her as a person, as she now navigates through a “very very difficult world” but said she has found solace in reaching out to others who have suffered similar losses.

It follows the success of a similar initiative in Greater Manchester and invites those who have lost a loved one to suicide to create a special memorial square, 10cm by 10cm, which will be stitched together to form a quilt.

The finished quilt will then be unveiled on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day, before going on display throughout the region.

Karen, who lives in Wakefield, had been involved in the Manchester quilt’s creation because her daughter Beth was born in Bolton so was eligible for a square.

She said: “When I was looking at that quilt and you see every single square is so unique. It’s so beautiful. Because behind it you know that there’s an individual who is loved and missed.

“And it doesn’t matter how long ago. Time passes but you’re still carrying that bereavement.”

They have now been joined in their quest by Pat Sowa, from Harrogate, who lost her son Dom to suicide in 2017.

Karen said: “There is still so much stigma and silence around suicide that this is a positive [project].