Georgia’s Voice is the legacy of my beautiful daughter Georgia Lee Gallaway who took her own life on July 6th 2020.
Through the passion and hard work of the amazing team behind Georgia’s Voice we hope to reduce the rate of suicide in young women by making them realise they are not alone, and this is not the only option.
Through our support groups we have created a huge network of support, we provide safe spaces for the girls to talk, or not talk! Somewhere they will really be listened to, with empathy, not judgement. We help teach them ways of promoting their own well-being, as well as making them aware of the other services that are out there to help them when they are in need.
My journey with my own mental health started when I was around 10 or 11, unhappy at home and school I often acted out, got drunk, and even took an overdose at the age of 14. I had a small time frame of slight relief from my issues after leaving home and school, although I still often abused alcohol and eventually went to the doctors aged 19 when my mental health had deteriorated to the point I had suicidal thoughts once again, I spent many years on anti depressants which I would still often mix with alcohol, not realising how much this fed my anxiety and depression.
One of my beautiful daughters unfortunately also suffered massively with her mental health, and even though we as a family tried so hard to help and support her, it was a battle she found so overwhelming she felt the only option was to make the devastating decision to take her own life. From that day I’ve not drunk a single drop of alcohol, and never plan to again, I vowed to try to help as many young girls as I possibly can to stop this ever happening again. No one should feel that the best or only option is suicide, and no family should ever have to suffer the devastating heartbreak of loosing someone to suicide.
There is a real lack of easily accessible help and support out there for young people these days, so I decided with the help of many other fantastic friends and family to do something about it.
As well as creating support groups, Georgia’s voice can provide a huge support system tailored to your individual needs, we will provide workshops and information days explaining things that can promote good mental health and positive emotions. We can help with providing a range of therapies and helplines, and even put you in touch with the right people should you want to get back into education or employment.
We also want to have fun with our group members! And outside of the support group meetings there will be the chance to take part in many fun (and free!) activity days.
Our groups run in various places towns across Cornwall, and we hope to eventually have support groups in every town, with the aim being to bring the ever increasing suicide rate in young girls down to zero.
If you would like to come to a meeting but are scared, don’t worry, coming to group for the first time is a big step, although everyone there will know how you are feeling having also once had to walk in for the first time themselves, feel free to start by sending a message, just please take that first step and get in touch. If there’s one thing I want you to know and to stick with you it’s that ‘ YOU MATTER’.
