We’ve just passed 700 signatures, and I want to say a huge thank you to every single person who has supported this campaign so far. What began as one parent speaking up has grown into a county‑wide movement of families, professionals, and supporters who all recognise the same truth: West Sussex children with Selective Mutism are being failed, and it has gone on for far too long.

Over the past few weeks, more families have shared their stories. These experiences are often heartbreaking, but they are also incredibly important. They show a clear pattern: children showing signs of Selective Mutism in nursery, being misunderstood in primary school, and then reaching secondary school with escalating anxiety and no specialist support. Without intervention, these difficulties don’t simply disappear — they follow children into adolescence and often continue into adulthood unless something changes.

One of the most frustrating parts of this process has been watching West Sussex County Council repeatedly pass responsibility to the NHS, as though they have no role in this crisis. Families are being told “this is an NHS issue”, while NHS services say they are not commissioned to support Selective Mutism in West Sussex. The truth is - education and health both have a part to play. The result is a complete dead end — and children are the ones paying the price.

The good news is that this petition is being noticed. We now have MP involvement across different areas of West Sussex, with MPs raising questions directly with the Director of Children’s Services. This is a significant step — and it is happening because of the pressure you have helped create.

To help families connect, support each other, and stay updated, we now have a growing Facebook group with over 50 members. It’s a supportive space for parents, carers, and allies to share experiences, ask questions, and organise together:

👉 Facebook group: West Sussex Selective Mutism Support Hub.

We’ve also had our first piece of media coverage, which is a huge step in raising awareness. If you missed it, you can read the recent article here:

Littlehampton mum’s petition calls for improved recognition of anxiety in autistic children in West Sussex https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/littlehampton-mums-petition-calls-for-improved-recognition-of-anxiety-in-autistic-children-in-west-sussex/ar-AA20vyLs

Thank you — truly — from the bottom of my heart for supporting this. I cannot do this alone. This movement is only possible because of every single one of you standing behind it.

So I want to end with a reminder of the power of one more.

If each of us, just once this week, shows the QR code above to one more person, our voices double — instantly — and become much harder to ignore.

1,000 signatures… we’re coming for you.

More updates soon.