ONE OF the stars of Sky News fought back tears as he shared his late son’s ‘dying wish.’
The TV presenter was invited onto the BBC Breakfast sofa with Rachel Burden and Roger Johnson.
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Mike McCarthy was welcomed into the Manchester-based studio by the presenting pair.
He is best known as a presenter for BBC Look North before he joined Sky News to be the Manchester bureau chief.
He took to the airwaves to raise awareness for suicide prevention and increased support for mental health and after the death of his son.
This was after his son Ross died tragically at the age of 31 and the journalist wanted to carry out his child’s ‘dying wish’.
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Ross requested that his family campaign for “better support” in his final farewell letter.
Mike couldn’t help but wipe away the tears in a particularly moving moment when reflecting on his son.
As he sat on the iconic red sofa, he held the Baton of Hope, which is part of the UK’s largest ever suicide prevention initiative.
He said that the item represented a “journey of hope—of moving bravely away from the darkness of despair and, with encouragement and support.”
In memory of his son, the news personality supported the epic event as the baton travels across the country.
It will stop at 20 different locations and the flagship breakfast programme will cover the journey.
The drive will culminate in London as the baton is set to reach the capital on October 10.
Mike explained that he has met some ‘incredible people’ through the event as he reflected on the community that has been built.
The media personality supports other people who also lost friends and relatives.
He admitted: “I say to people whom I have met, who have lost people to suicide, ‘I wish I had never met you, but I am glad that we did’.
Help for mental health
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support.
The following are free to contact and confidential:
Mind, www.mind.org, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary).
YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too.
Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.
“Because in another world we wouldn’t have met, and I’d go back to that world in the blink of an eye, but I’ve met some incredible people.”
Change in the workplace
During the interview, he became increasingly emotional as he addressed his son’s letter.
However, he admitted it was ‘rewarding’ to have made a positive change in the workplace.
Mike explained: “We’ve introduced what we’d call a workplace pledge, in which we provide suicide prevention in the workplace for companies large and small.
I’d go back to that world in the blink of an eye, but I’ve met some incredible people.
“That has really taken off and it’s rewarding to see that the letter that Ross left for me, that there was something that I could do to answer what was effectively his dying wish.”
3 Dads Walking
He also created the campaign 3 Dads Walking along with other fathers whose children tragically took their own lives.
They aimed to raise awareness of suicide prevention together, “one step at a time”.
Through grief, they came together and they are set to reunite once again to share a lap together with the special Baton of Hope.
Who is on Sky News?
Who are the Sky News presenters? We take a look.
Chief Presenter
- Kay Burley
- Mark Austin
- Anna Botting
Lead presenter
- Sophy Ridge (politics)
- Sarah-Jane Mee (UK news)
- Yalda Hakim (world news)
- Ian King (business)
Presenters
- Jacquie Beltrao (Sports)
- Wilfred frost
- Anna Jones
- Sally Lockwood
- Kamali Melbourne
- Samantha Washington
- Trevor Phillips
- Gillian Joseph
- Jayne Secker
- Jonathan Samuels
- Niall Paterson
- Gareth Barlow
- Saima Mohsin
- Matt Barbet
Mike said: “I mean, the 3 Dads, again, advanced the cause so effectively.
£Doing something practical was a Baton of Hope, and we wanted to do something practical.”
Adding: “Awareness is as good as the practical change that follows.”
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