Northern Ireland

Former Secretary of State Owen Paterson sets up charitable trust following wife's suicide

Rose Paterson took her own life last June
Rose Paterson took her own life last June Rose Paterson took her own life last June

FORMER Secretary of State Owen Paterson has said he was "wholly unprepared" for his wife's suicide and believes contracting coronavirus may have affected her mental health.

Mother-of-three Rose Paterson (64) took her own life on her husband's birthday last June in woodlands close to the family home in Shropshire.

The couple were married for 40 years.

The Conservative MP has set up a charitable trust in his wife's name to raise awareness around suicide.

Speaking on BBC's Radio Ulster's Nolan Show, he said he repeatedly asks himself about potential warning signs he could have missed.

Conservative MP Owen Paterson is campaigning for improved suicide awareness training
Conservative MP Owen Paterson is campaigning for improved suicide awareness training Conservative MP Owen Paterson is campaigning for improved suicide awareness training

"None of us knew any of this was coming...we knew Rose was anxious but we were wholly unprepared," he said.

"She had Covid (previously) and I think probably that had an impact."

Mr Paterson is campaigning for increased suicide prevention training and said his "constant request" is to ask people to talk to someone if they are experiencing difficulties.

"Don't bottle it up, that's the real message I'd like to get out," he said.

He said The Rose Paterson Trust would raise funds to support suicide prevention projects.

"If we can just help stop just one family going through the extraordinary anguish that we are currently going through and will continue to for many years, then we might have done some good," he said.

The trust also plans to campaign to get changes in national policy in a bid to reduce the frequency of suicide.