Angela Samata is a freelance arts professional, with experience of working in the fields of mental health, suicide prevention and postvention. Angela’s unique skillset enables her to combine disciplines, to help raise awareness, reduce stigma and influence policy and practice. In 2018 Angela completed a Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship, visiting the USA and Japan with a focus on mental health and art. She provides consultancy in both suicide prevention and postvention.
Angela is personally bereaved by suicide and represents the views of those bereaved by suicide, using various mediums. Examples include, Chair, and now Ambassador, of the Survivors of the Bereaved by Suicide (SOBS) charity, a nationwide organisation offering a unique and distinct free service with online, face-to-face and telephone support to bereaved adults across the UK.
Qualifications
- 1998 BSc (Hons): Psychology with Geography and Astronomy (University of Chester)
- 2016 MA: Art History and Curating (Liverpool Hope University)
Affiliations
- Honorary Fellow, Liverpool John Moores University
- Winston Churchill Fellow (2018)
- Member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention
- Patron for the Support After Suicide Partnership
- Ambassador for Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)
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Angela’s specific experience
- Presented the BBC1 Factual TV documentary, ‘Life After Suicide’, which explored the experiences of those bereaved by suicide. The documentary was aired as part of the BBC’s Mental Health Season #InTheMind and was watched world-wide by over 4.5 million viewers.
- Co-author of the award-winning #SeeSaySignpost training (NHS70 Parliamentary Award), which has to date been accessed by 500,000 people globally.
- Keynote speaker: Suicide Bereavement UK’s International Conference (2018 & 2019); launch of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (2016); International Suicide Prevention Conference ‘When Someone Dies by Suicide’: Cologne, Germany (2019).
- Contributor to television items on suicide bereavement: BBC Breakfast; BBC2; Channels 4 and 5.
- Interviews in print media include: The Times; The Guardian; The Metro.
Angela’s awards
- BBC1 BAFTA nominated and winner of the Mind Media Award for Best Factual TV documentary, ‘Life After Suicide’
- Merseyside Woman of the Year 2016