Category: Blog

Christmas can be a particularly hard time for people coping with mental health challenges, so it is an important time to continue to raise awareness. Here, Harry Watkins explains how his twin brother’s legacy has helped young people’s mental health and will continue to do so in 2023.

When my brother Charlie sadly took his own life aged just 22, it turned our world upside down. He was the light of our all our lives, but then suddenly he was gone.

When a loved one takes their own life, it leaves a giant void behind. And sadly, it is a feeling far too many families continue to experience.

The grief can feel more intense throughout the festive season because people are expected to be spreading festive joy. However, in reality we miss loved ones more as they are not by our side to celebrate.

While Charlie is no longer here with us, the legacy he left behind is huge.

His kindness, bubbly personality and beaming smile are all entwined in the vital work the Charlie Watkins Foundation has set out to achieve. Through the foundation, we have funded incredible initiatives which all share a common goal – to support young people’s mental health.

Ensuring young people have the right tools to deal with mental health challenges they face is paramount for their wellbeing. My first experience of mental health was when Charlie had depression – and I wish I had knowledge of it before.

In 2020, 147 young people in England aged 15 – 19 took their own lives. In 2021, this number rose to 198. While awareness of mental health appears to be improving, there is still a lot more work to be done.

Teaching young people early and ensuring they have the right support for their mental health is vital. Therefore, as part of our work in 2022, the Charlie Watkins Foundation has funded projects for the Youth Enquiry Service (YES), Student Minds and the Charlie Waller Trust (CWT).

We are always looking for new ways to help improve young people’s mental health, and we know there is still much work to do. But we can’t continue to fund these incredible initiatives throughout 2023 without your support.

All donations to the Charlie Watkins Foundation support the work of charities and initiatives whose primary focus is helping young people’s mental health. If you can, please donate.

Sadly, we will all lose people we love in our lifetimes, and it is never easy. This National Grief Awareness Week, Harry Watkins talks about his experience of grief after losing his twin brother, Charlie.  

Nothing can ever prepare you to say goodbye to someone you love. Charlie was my twin brother, he was with me at every stage of my life. 

And one day he was gone. 

It is difficult to describe the grief I experienced when he passed away, but it felt like a darkness had now shaded my world. Charlie was the light in every room because of his kindness, bubbly personality and infectious smile. 

When he was gone, all of that left with him. An overwhelming sense of grief flooded my life, and it was difficult for everyone close to him. 

It has been more than five years since mental ill health took Charlie from us. Time is a great healer, however I still live with grief. 

And that is ok. 

National Grief Awareness Week is an opportunity to share our experiences of grief, as well as ways to cope and to highlight support available. Everyone experiences it and it is completely natural, so it should not be ignored or hidden. 

My father and I both struggled after Charlie’s death, but we had each other. Also, we had love and support from those close to us. And that is something which can be a huge help when you are grieving. 

If you know someone who is experiencing grief, it is important you let them know you are there for them. Be it offering a listening ear, helping with practical tasks, or ensuring you are available if they need to speak. 

The important thing is to be patient. People experiencing grief can go through many emotions, so a patient and understanding approach is a must. 

It is unlikely any personal advice can be helpful to someone who is grieving, so that might be wise to avoid. Instead, offering kind words and helping them reflect could be more helpful. 

While it is National Grief Awareness Week, National Bereaved Parents Day took place in July. My father and co-founder of CWF, Tim Watkins, shared his experience which you can read here. 

If you are experiencing grief and need additional support, please contact your local mental health services.