Lothians Speak Their Name (LSTN) is a project that was set up to create a quilt in memory of people who have died by suicide in Edinburgh and the Lothians and we will have it on display in Loanhead Church for a week beginning 24th November.
49 people have made squares in memory of their loved ones, which hold the stories of their loves and lives. LSTN ran workshops last year for people to come together and make their squares, and to make connections with each other. These were safe spaces where everyone was similarly bereaved by suicide; and so everyone in the room understood how everyone else was feeling. For people who have never wanted to join a support group, the chance to be creative alongside others offered them a different way of addressing their grief. So as well as creating this beautiful memorial, LSTN brought people together as a community, where they’ve found support and friendship.
The quilt has been touring Edinburgh and the Lothians since the launch event in October 2024.
In 2023, 792 people died by suicide in Scotland. 590 of them were men. Before the tour started, the hope was that by seeing the quilt and the individuals and their lives which it remembers (and not just the statistics), people would be inspired to start conversations about mental health and suicide. If they’d struggled with their own mental health, LSTN hoped they would be encouraged to seek help and support. This has been happening at every venue where LSTN exhibited, and they continue to be overwhelmed by the impact the quilt is having on people who see it. LTSN always said they hoped that their quilt might save lives, and they now have testaments that this is in fact the case.
The quilt is coming to the end of its Edinburgh and Lothians tour before setting off on a Scotland-wide journey – continuing the conversation and, hopefully, inspiring more groups to create their own Speak Their Name quilt. So this is your chance to see the beautiful quilt as it visits Loanhead Church.
The church will be open at the following times and there will be church members and Lothians Speak Their Name representatives there. We will have home baking and hot drinks available too if you want to sit for a while. You can choose to spend time alone in quiet reflection, chat to those there, or ask them to pray with or for you.
Monday 24th November – Friday 28th November 11am-12.30pm
Saturday 29th November 2pm – 3.30pm
The quilt will also be on display at both our services on Sunday 30th November, our morning service at 10.30am and our Memorial Service for the Bereaved at 2pm
We are also, along with Lothians Speak Their Name, hosting a drop-in event from 6pm – 8pm on Wednesday 26th November, where we will have representatives from Andy’s Man Club, SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), SoBs (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) as well as some of the quilt makers. We will be serving refreshments and there will be a space for quiet reflection available along with prayer support from church members. The story of the quilt will be screened at 6.45pm. Everyone is welcome.
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