Our 14 year old son has Died... Our son, had suffered with major depression for over 2 years we begged and pleaded for help but where told there was nothing wrong and no mental illness. Then at the age of 12 he was found hanging in the woods. Despite being in a coma and against all odds, he survived and recovered well. However, instead of receiving support from social services during this critical period, even though they refused to believe he had mental health, he was held by security on a normal children's ward in hospital where he was treated like a criminal. He received no help or medication to address his mental health issues. He was taken from us and passed from hospital to so-called care homes where again he received no medication or help and he ended up in a dirty flat in Chelmsford being guarded by basic agency staff and left to rot, until after endless court battles we finally got him home. Once home he received NO HELP at all, no medication for depression like he had needed all along.

This negligence continued for over a year until our son took his own life just weeks after his 14th birthday. This is not just our story; it's an issue that affects countless families across the country who are let down by social services when they most need help.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-34 in the U.S., and nearly 60% of adults with mental illness didn't receive mental health services in the previous year (NAMI). Yet despite these alarming statistics, our children are being failed by those who are supposed to protect them.

We demand accountability from social services nationwide for their actions or lack thereof when dealing with cases involving child mental health issues. They must be held responsible for their failures and take immediate steps to improve their practices so that no other family has to endure what we have been through.

Please sign this petition if you believe that social services should be held accountable for their negligence towards children suffering from mental health issues.