The family of a woman who died in a suspected suicide a year ago want to help prevent other families from going through such pain.

Last week, hundreds of people, mostly university students, completed a Run for Mum event in Dunedin, Auckland and Christchurch, raising thousands of dollars for mental health charity Yellow Brick Road.

The run was organised by Kate Saunders' three daughters who wanted to honour their mum.

Dunedin-based Ruby says her mum, who died during her first year of university, was the “biggest life force I’ve ever met”.

“I genuinely couldn't have wished for a better childhood and a better like woman to raise me and… I wasn't really exposed or had any understanding of her mental health struggles until recently but … she’d never let it [be] obvious to us, to her kids.”

Kate's sister, Felicity Letcher, says Kate was invested in the community herself, with people telling the whānau she helped them during their own struggles.

“While we had this really big, very horrible experience, very sad, we were very committed right from the beginning to ensure that we would make something good out of this, Kate would want that.”

Hundreds took to the streets as part of the Run for Mum fundraiser. Photo: Supplied / Felicity Letcher

The idea all started last year, when Ruby and her sister Natalie’s friends surprised them with a video of them on a 3km run organised in collaboration with Heavy Breathers.

“Coming up to the one-year anniversary this year, I was like I want to do something that's proactive and that gets me out of bed and that gets me being around everyone that I love and kind of putting that action towards something really proactive that we can help like more families.”

Soon she got messages from her younger sister, Hannah in Auckland, and community members in Christchurch who were keen to organise their own events in their cities too.

Ruby says it created a space for even strangers to open up about mental health to her.

“I can't imagine being in a better place for this to have happened, weirdly, to be surrounded by like a thousand people my age and we're having these open conversations.

“I would never wish this to happen to me or anyone ever, but it has prompted some pretty amazing conversations with my friends and it's like opened up my relationships with people in a way that it makes talking about mental health not as stigmatised.”

Letcher adds everyone could sympathise with losing a mother.

“The idea that your mother could not be there one day, I think, struck a really big nerve.”

Although Kate had gone to a private mental health facility, Letcher says the whānau felt left out of the loop in “a hole of no information” when she departed the facility.

“Families play an integral part in looking after the people they care for the most and yet often we are forgotten and not made to be central to any kind of solution.

“I think that's what really impressed us about Yellow Brick Road and that's what they're trying to do, is actually really put families back into the heart of how we deal with mental health.”

Yellow Brick Road chief executive John Moore says they support families of those struggling with mental health and he says whānau support is an important part of care.

Where to get help

  • Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.