When her daughter, Jenny committed suicide two weeks after her 16th birthday and 15 minutes after they’d had an argument, Jenetta Barry’s world came crashing down. It had been a long road of trauma, rehabs, seeking solutions, and trying to protect her daughter from herself. And, like many other carers in the same position, although beside herself with loss and emotional pain, a small part of her was thankful it was all over.
Jenetta Barry had been a wonderful mother. Brought up in Kenya by UK born parents, her mother had been on the West End Stage and her father was an impresario and owned a successful record label. Her life was woven with the excitement of music, media, and stage. A competent ballet dancer, actress, and singer, she was on the same journey as her parents. But her idyllic upbringing was marred by a family member who sexually abused her when she was 7 and this secret was kept within the family.
When Jenetta’s daughter Jenny was born years later she had moved back to Kenya and Jenny soon turned into an attractive, bubbly, popular girl who was an extrovert. But Jenny’s internal messaging always told her the opposite. That she wasn’t liked, wanted, needed, or understood. An amazing girl now tormented with mental health issues and depression soon turned into an acting-out teenager who needed to be watched constantly and sectioned for her own protection.
Jenny committed suicide in her room 15 minutes after an argument with her mother. For Jenetta it would be the start of a long soul journey towards changing the world. Jenny died on 10th October, World Mental Health Day, resulting in the subsequent birthing of “World Jenny’s Day” held each year on that day. Established to utilise performing arts and the arts to normalise conversations around depression, suicide, and their solutions, this year a 24-Hour Performing Arts Marathon with a red carpet Celebrity Gala Evening included, is scheduled at the Millenium Gloucester Hotel in Central London. The work supported by the UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, will see international celebrities performing and attending.
On the 20th of August this year, Jenetta Barry for the second year is organising a six-day Kilimanjaro to Kenyan coast cycling fundraiser with people in attendance like Karen Darke MBE British Paralympian hand Cyclist. Participants travel through and stay in some of Africa’s most exotic lodges and camps. After completing the Kenyan Safari Cycle, an additional team of physically diversified people head to achieve summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro with Karen Darke MBE in a “Sea to Summit” challenge using her handbike.
