The family of a young woman who took her own life are aiming to raise awareness on mental health and raise funds for charities in her memory.

Jodi Walsham, from Humshaugh, died in January, aged 23.

Her parents, Jayne and Don, have released a song which Jodi produced last August and sang on, ‘Love and Scars’.

Jayne said: “Jodi sang from being a little girl.

“She never wanted to be a singer or anything like that but she would express herself by writing music and mixing things.”

She added: “We made the decision that after what happened, happened, we’ve got to do something to raise awareness and try and let people know about mental health.

“It’s still hugely a stigma in my eyes in this country.

“It would be quite poignant to use the song to try and get it out there.”

“She was so talented, but she never pushed it out there,” Jayne said. “She had so much to give.”

Alongside the release of the song, they have set up a JustGiving page.

Over £2,400 has been raised so far.

The money raised will go to three local causes.

One is Core Music in Hexham, a non-profit organisation which aims to make music accessible to all in the community and who helped to improve the song’s sound quality and revamp it before its release.

Another is Lawnmowers, a theatre company run by and for people with learning difficulties.

Funds raised will also go to Tyneside and Northumberland MIND.

Jodi, who went to Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham, graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in 2018, where she studied community drama and applied theatre.

She was a member of Humshaugh Youth Theatre from 2005 to 2011.

To listen to the song and donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jayne-walsham-1.

  • Anyone who needs support should call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit their website.