Kidderminster parents will 'not stop' calls for better mental support for younger people in son's name
Rob and Lisa Collins are pushing for a funding pot to be made available through Mitch's Law, to provide for mental health counsellors in educational settings
Last updated 16 hours ago
Note: This article features discussion about suicide, and has links to support at the end
The mum and dad of a teenager from Worcestershire who took his own life seven years ago have vowed to keep fighting to get improved mental health services for young people.
Kidderminster's Rob and Lisa Collins' 16-year-old son Mitch died on Easter Sunday in 2019.
Since then, the husband and wife have set-up a petition in his name calling for Mitch's Law to be introduced, which they say would focus on getting funding made available to ensure support is in place in any educational setting.
The pair, who described their son as someone who was "amazing, lively. cheeky, but lovely at the same time", have said they will continue to push for the changes they want to see.
"Our hope is to place mental health counsellors in, predominantly schools, then reaching colleges, with a cross political party commitment to provide a funding pot for charity mental health workers to claim for resources and a salary," Lisa said.
"This will provide early intervention, teach strategies, provide early support, as well as someone to talk to, someone who listens and understands."
Rob, alongside Lisa and their older son, completed a near 130-mile journey last month from where Mitch's memorial bench is at in Wolverley Secondary School, all the way to Downing Street in London to highlight the petition, which is on just under 14,000 signatures at the time of writing, and their calls.
A total of 100,000 is needed to put it in a position where a debate in parliament could then take place.
"We cannot let loose of the focus that we've got to get the changes for our young," Rob said.
"Our young people need to be seen at a point of prevention, not reaction.
"Every signature is a voice, every signature is telling someone who may be suffering that there are people physically working out there trying to make changes."
They're planning to return to Downing Street at sometime around the end of June and the start of July to hand in the petition.
In response, a government spokesperson said: "No parent should have to fear for their child's mental health, which is why this government is committed to expanding mental health support services closer to where young people live and learn.
"We are accelerating the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges, expanding community‑based support via Early Support and Young Futures Hubs, and strengthening neighbourhood health services so children and families get the right help, earlier.
"Alongside this, we have also delivered on our promise to recruit 8,500 more mental health workers across children and adult services, three years ahead of schedule."
Support
Samartians run a service all day, 365 days a year, which can be contacted on 116 123 or by visiting their website to find the nearest branch.
If you're looking for mental health support services near you, then you can find them across the UK using the Hub of Hope.