CHARITY BAGS FOR STRIFE


From Mental Health Awareness Week (15-21 May 2023), a new charity has emerged to raise awareness of the help available to people in times of crisis


PFEW is at the heart of many of the support structures that are integral to our members and will always support and promote organisations that offer help when it is most needed. One such organisation is the young charity, Bags for Strife, set up in 2020 by people who have lost loved ones to suicide.


family felt the need to close themselves off to the wider world and concentrate on working through their own grief. The lack of support that was available in the


“By having something physical that can be left with families, it is possible for them to turn to the bag when they are ready”


The driving force behind the organisation is the impressive and inspirational Angela Allen. She lost her daughter, Katrina, to suicide in 2019. Eight months later she lost her husband, Damian, who also took his own life. After experiencing such loss in a concentrated period of time, it would have been understandable if Angela and her


24 | POLICE | JUNE 2023


aftermath provided little refuge or solace. But Angela is made of strong stuff. Struck by the absence of support, and recognising that if this was their experience, it must be the experience of others, Angela reached out to others affected by suicide. Starting these conversations, it


became clear that the common ground went beyond emotional trauma. It was cemented by the lack of available support. As Angela discussed her experience, she discovered that everyone’s overriding emotions had the same pattern of blame, anger, guilt, sadness (BAGS). It was from these conversations that


BAGS for Strife was born.


The concept is simple. The aim is to provide something physical that can be left with a family when they receive the shattering news that they have lost a loved one to suicide. It is unsurprising to know that once such news is delivered, any information that may be relayed is likely to


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