I am a long-lasting sufferer of mental health issues, beginning from a young age. It's a struggle that has plagued many like me, engraving a lasting imprint on our lives. Mental health remains a prominent and deadly issue that requires increased attention and funding. Sadly, far too little has changed since my youth, and the lack of sufficient support endangers lives every day.

Currently, many mental health services operate within limited working hours, leaving those in need bereft of any help or assistance during the night—an especially vulnerable time for many. Yet, mental health crises do not adhere to standard business hours. Consequentially, the need for a 24-hour mental health service system is more critical now than ever.

The situation is equally dire when focusing on the mental health of our children. The services provided by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are simply inadequate. According to The Mental Health Foundation, approximately 1 in 10 children have a mental health problem, and many continue to adult life (Mental Health Foundation). This bleak reality emphasizes the critical necessity for a comprehensive overhaul and increased funding.

In light of these facts and personal experiences, this petition seeks a commitment from policymakers to increase funding significantly and implement a 24-hour mental health service system. Night time is the toughest time to get through, as the world sleeps your mind can go into overdrive, everything feels so much more lonely and a lot worse, having more access to help throughout the night and getting people through to the next day were more helps available may save many, crisis line and Samaritans are a good service but there not always that useful to many in a crisis situation. A commitment that is not just about figures, but about saving lives and safeguarding our future. The curse of mental health issues can no longer be a silent plight. Please sign this petition to demand action today. Together, we can bring the much-needed change to our mental health services, ensuring no person, young or old, is left untreated, unheard, or alone in our society.