Shine on Shelly

BY CHRISTINE DEVONPORT

 

Thank you for visiting Shine On Shelly – a site being set up to provide a line of communication for families suffering bereavement through suicide – or young people who may be feeling suicidal – to be able to reach others in similar circumstances, although there is no intention to limit the scope of the help and support to dealing only with those two scenarios. The intention is to provide somewhere where people can seek help and support for themselves or their loved ones, no matter what the cause – when perhaps they have not found the answers they seek anywhere else.

 

The idea of the site has been conceived by us, the family of a young woman who took her own life. The utter carnage and devastation she left behind her has driven my family to seek to try to make some sense of our loss and to try to find a way to feel that our darling girl was not lost totally in vain, that her death was not a complete and utter waste. We, her family, cling to the hope that lives can be saved – even if only one person pulls back from the brink because of Shine On Shelly, then we will have achieved our aim – Shelly can indeed shine on. Please do browse the site, which is still under construction but already has lots of useful information, with more being added all the time.

 

Of particular interest, there is a page dedicated to providing helpline contact information, for all sorts of support organisations – some dealing with some fairly specific topics and others that may be more generalised. There is a forum so as to establish a community (although there is also a means of contacting us directly if anyone should feel the need to do so, and you will receive a fast response) where people may find some comfort, solace and support from others who are experiencing now, or who have been through and survived a similar situation.

 

There is a section called 'This Is My Story", containing some very touching and moving stories provided by some very brave souls, who have – specifically for Shine on Shelly – told us their own very personal experiences, having been moved by what Shelly and the family have suffered and endured. They hope that by laying their souls bare for Shine on Shelly, they will help to encourage others to open up and approach someone - anyone, for the help they many need. If you would like to help Shine on Shelly by sharing your story please e-mail it to the address below. Rest assured that you will, of course, remain completely anonymous. We are communicatiing with the police and the coroner's office, with a view to their providing information as to the legalities arising from a sudden death incident. There are procedures and formalities that have to be observed which, in the cold light of day are entirely understandable but which, at the time of the bereavement, can be exceptionally bewildering and upsetting for the families to endure - on top of the actual bereavement itself. There is a feedback option, where you can let us know what you think of Shine on Shelly and what it seeks to do. We welcome any positive feedback and ideas.

We hope to construct a Book of Condolence, with a photo gallery, in the not-too-distant future – we will keep you posted.

 

See the FAQs and poll sections too. The more information available, the better – we welcome your input for both sections. In the event that we receive a particularly huge response to any poll, we will endeavour to bring it to the attention of the relevant authority, seeking action wherever we can.

 

Finally, we have indulged ourselves with "Shelly's Page." After all, her death is what this site is all about. Our beloved angel. Feel free to browse her page, to try to understand what she meant to everyone who knew her, to realise how many lives she touched and to comprehend the absolute heart-wrenching grief caused by her taking her own life when, quite simply, there were any one of a huge number of people that cared about her and would have helped her……..had she communicated with them. But she didn't and now she's gone and our lives have been changed irrevocably. She is greatly missed and millions of tears have been shed for her, with millions more to yet to flow.

 

If you would like to get in touch please email us – you will receive a very fast response – on: info@shineonshelly.org