Beder
1594. Razzak Mirjan
Razzak Mirjan, from London, is a lawyer raising awareness around mental health and suicide prevention through his charity ‘Beder’, which he set up in 2019 in memory of his brother Beder Mirjan, who took his own life aged 18.
The charity in particular aims to reach out to young and diverse audiences to overcome the fear and stigma that often surrounds talking about these issues. In November last year, Razzak self-published a charity cookbook, featuring recipes from chefs Gordon Ramsay and Yotam Ottolenghi, to help fund new charitable partnerships with ‘Young Minds’ and ‘Samaritans’.
Razzak’s award follows Time To Talk Day, the annual day dedicated to encouraging conversations about mental health.
In a personal letter to Razzak, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“I was incredibly moved to hear about your charity ‘Beder’ which does so much to help young people with their mental health.
“I know the sacrifices young people have made during this pandemic and so it is more important than ever that they receive all the support they need. The partnerships you have made with ‘Young Minds’ and ‘Samaritans’ will touch many lives for the better.
“Helping other young people is a wonderful tribute to your brother, Beder.”
Razzak said:
“I am incredibly honoured to receive this award and the recognition of Beder’s unique approach to raising awareness around mental health and suicide prevention.
“We feel that we have made a notable impact in a short space of time which wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support that we have received since losing my brother and founding this charity.”