We're a peer-support charity, not a crisis service. If you need urgent help right now — Samaritans 116 123 · Text SHOUT to 85258
About us
Behind the Smile was founded by the parents of Zac, who ended his life after many years of mental health struggles. Out of that loss grew a charity determined that no one should face their darkest days, or the grief of losing someone to suicide, alone.
We believe that everyone has the right to a good standard of mental health — and where they don't, they should have access to timely, appropriate and compassionate support. That belief is the heartbeat of everything we do.
The semicolon is a quiet, powerful symbol from the mental health community. A writer uses a semicolon where they could have ended a sentence, but chose to carry it on. Your story isn't over — and neither is the story of everyone we walk alongside. That's why we say we are "Continuing Zac's Story;".
To help prevent suicide by facilitating peer support, one-to-one listening and wellbeing walks — for those living with poor mental health and those bereaved by suicide. We work across suicide prevention, intervention and postvention, so that people can find support before, during and after crisis.
We are not a clinical service. Everything we offer is shaped and led by people with real, lived experience of mental ill health and of bereavement by suicide. No one is spoken down to, hurried, or made to feel like a case to be managed — just met, human to human.
What we believe
"Sometimes what we need is not a solution or well-meaning advice, but simply to have someone listen while we tell our story." We listen to understand, not to reply.
Support is open to everyone affected by mental ill health or suicide bereavement, without judgement, cost or barriers to entry.
We're a Worcestershire charity built on real relationships — a place to belong, not just a service to use.
Behind the Smile is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered in 2019 and run by trustees alongside a dedicated team of volunteers. It was established by Zac's family and continues to be guided by the belief that lived experience is the most powerful form of support there is.
Whether you're struggling yourself or grieving someone you've lost, there's a place for you with us.