I am writing to express growing concern about the current gaps in care for individuals experiencing mental health crisis and to urge the government to prioritise meaningful investment and reform in this area. 

As a mother struggling to keep my son from ending his own life, I would like to share my family's harrowing experience with both the local authority and NHS in the hope that it will raise awareness, encourage others in similar situations to speak out, and drive change for vulnerable young adults who are being failed every single day.

Since the age of 9, my son has lived with complex mental health needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and attachment disorder. He also experiences dissociative episodes, where different personalities take over—each with its own name, voice, and behaviour. Despite this clear evidence of severe psychological distress, my son is not being listened to by professionals. He’s been prescribed various medications, but no one is properly monitoring whether they’re helping or harming him. We’re in the dark—and so is he.

When he transitioned to adult services, all support he’d previously had was stripped away. Promises were made to me, including that I would receive my own care plan as his primary carer. That never materialised. Like so many parents in my position, I have been left to cope alone, completely unsupported.

In May, a doctor at Avenue House, Warwickshire, informed him he had psychosis—news that was later retracted—but the emotional damage had already been done. Since then, my son has spiralled. He has attempted to take his own life twice. He has been in and out of the Caludon Centre at Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, receiving inconsistent and often harmful care. Rules and boundaries change constantly, which is devastating for someone who is neurodivergent. The environment has not helped him—it has made him worse.

My son has struggled for some time with auditory and visual hallucinations and sadly began using cannabis to self-medicate. Since being admitted to the Caludon Centre, however, things have worsened drastically. Drug use is widespread there, and it’s not being adequately monitored. Now, he has started using harder substances—drugs he had never used before his admission. The very environment meant to keep him safe is actively exposing him to greater risk.

There are simply not enough staff to manage the patients safely. The rules and structure change constantly—this is devastating for someone who is neurodivergent. Not only are patients at risk, but staff themselves are regularly assaulted. The situation is chaotic, unsafe, and entirely unfit for purpose.

Most distressingly, my son was recently physically attacked by another patient and almost lost his life. It wasn’t staff who saved him. It was another patient. Where is the safety? Where is the supervision? Where is the care?

Eleven weeks into adult social care, he still has no Care Act assessment, no Mental Capacity assessment, and no meaningful support plan. Despite his inability to manage basic life skills, he’s being pushed toward a flat or unsupported accommodation. I am terrified for his safety and feel completely powerless. I cannot keep him safe at home, and yet the services that should be helping us are doing nothing.

I am reaching breaking point myself. There is no support for me as a parent, despite carrying this burden for years. I know I am not alone. I ask anyone reading this—if you have been through something similar, please come forward. This cannot continue in silence.

The system is broken, overwhelmed, and dangerously failing those who need it most. This has to stop before the damage becomes irreversible—not just for my son, but for so many other young people and their families and it must change before more lives are destroyed.

Sadly, since writing this petition there has been another young adult life lost to suicide due to the lack of mental health support, whilst under the care of the community mental health team. This has to stop. Now is the time to take action.

We urge the government to act decisively by integrating the below priorities into current health policy reviews, budget planning and NHS mental health strategy updates.

Please sign our petition to help raise government awareness regarding;

• Increased funding for acute mental health crisis services.
• Sustainable investment in mental health support services
• Funding and training for understaffed mental health wards
• Family support during mental health crisis'
• Improved communication between teams, patients and families
• Immediate access to crisis teams
• Faster mental health triage processes
• Timely access to care plans during emergencies

We demand immediate reform of the mental health system with a specific focus on the transition from child to adult services. This includes consistent funding, hiring more qualified professionals, and creating a standardized protocol to ensure no young adult falls through the cracks, during their most vulnerable times.  

If you are reading this and would like to help, please sign our petition  If you have experienced something similar, please speak up. We need to break the silence.