Mother’s aim to dispel mental health myths
A GRIEVING mother whose son killed himself following a desperate fight with mental illness is planning a series of events to raise mental health awareness.
Marie Creighton, 52, of Enfield Close, whose son James died aged 28 in 2009, is organising a ‘Young People's Mental Health Day’ in a bid to boost understanding of the condition and to highlight what support is available for sufferers and their family.
Marie said: “I want to help dispel some of the myths surrounding mental health in young people, to remove the stigma so they’re not scared to talk about it.
James kept quite about his condition which made it worse, it was as if there was no support for him because he never opend up to anyone about how he was feeling.
We’re hoping to inform friends and family so they can be aware of a change in someone’s character and know what to do and who they can contact - it’s important to let everyone know what support sufferers can get.”
A poster campaign has also been launched aimed at attracting students from several schools to attend the event at the cricket pavilion in Houghton Regis on Monday, July 4.
Marie Creighton, 52, of Enfield Close, whose son James died aged 28 in 2009, is organising a ‘Young People's Mental Health Day’ in a bid to boost understanding of the condition and to highlight what support is available for sufferers and their family.
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| Marie Creighton, Jo Mayes, Rory Reynold, SEPT Specialist Clinician and Mayor of Houghton Regis, Andrew Robert |
Marie said: “I want to help dispel some of the myths surrounding mental health in young people, to remove the stigma so they’re not scared to talk about it.
James kept quite about his condition which made it worse, it was as if there was no support for him because he never opend up to anyone about how he was feeling.
We’re hoping to inform friends and family so they can be aware of a change in someone’s character and know what to do and who they can contact - it’s important to let everyone know what support sufferers can get.”
A poster campaign has also been launched aimed at attracting students from several schools to attend the event at the cricket pavilion in Houghton Regis on Monday, July 4.
Expert advice and information stalls will be on hand from some of UK’s leading mental health organisations including Mind and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation
Expert advice and information stalls will be on hand from some of UK’s leading mental health organisations including Mind and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation
Trust (SEPT).
A spokesperson for Mind said: “With one in four people likely to experience a mental health problem every year it is critical that we raise awareness and promote good mental health for the benefit of all members of society.”