A woman is campaigning for better mental health support for children leaving care, after she struggled with alcohol, drugs and debt when she was a teenager. <\/p>\n
Gemma Anyon – from Blackpool<\/a> – has launched a petition calling for the introduction of a statutory right to trauma, informed one-to-one mentorship and guaranteed mental health support for every child in care and after care leavers up to age 25, funded by the Government.<\/p>\n She said: “If I’m really honest, it’s lucky I’m still here because it could have been a very different story.<\/p>\n “I turned to drink, I was on this council estate I was going to parties, I had an ASBO (Anti-Social Behaviour Order) before I was 18. I was in debt when I was 19, I got blacklisted at 20.<\/p>\n “I used to drink and do drugs with my medicine, I was getting arrested every weekend. I was a young girl, but instead of people asking ‘why is this young girl in the stalls again’, it was petty stuff, nobody picked up on the life that I’d come from.”<\/p>\n Gemma now works to support other care leavers.<\/p>\n Gemma now works as a mental health empowerment mentor with 60 others across the UK, as well as leading ‘Inspired Empowerment’- a charity supporting young people through mentoring and early intervention, and teaching them life skills.<\/p>\n She said: “All my life I’ve struggled with my mental health, I’ve struggled with relationships, I have the fear of abandonment all the time so as soon as anyone got close to me i’d push them away.”<\/p>\n Gemma said many care leavers are not given life tools or taught how to live independently.<\/p>\n She said: “I feel like every child in the care system, they’re our most vulnerable children, why should they not be given a trauma informed mentor?<\/p>\n “Someone to help them unpack all the stuff that’s going on in their mind, because believe me, my mind never switched off.”<\/p>\n Gemma works with 60 mental health empowerment mentors across the UK. Credit: ITV News<\/p>\n Gemma said that while a lot of money is invested in prisons, hospitals, homelessness and crime, it may be more beneficial to “reach people when they’re young”.<\/p>\n For her campaign to reach parliament, Gemma’s petition<\/a> needs 10,000 signatures by October.<\/p>\n She said: “You can do and be anything you want to be and give them that belief. Let them write their own stories, they deserve that.”<\/p>\n The Department for Education have been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n Worried about mental health?<\/p>\n Mind<\/a>\u00a0is a mental health charity which promotes the views and needs of people with mental health issues. <\/p>\n It provides\u00a0advice and support<\/a>\u00a0to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem, and\u00a0campaigns<\/a>\u00a0to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.<\/p>\n Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice you can contact PAPYRUS HOPELINE247<\/a> on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email\u00a0pat@papyrus-uk.org<\/a><\/p>\n Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK. PAPYRUS<\/a> aims to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by breaking down the stigma around suicide and equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.<\/p>\n HOPELINE247 is the charity\u2019s confidential 24 hour helpline service providing practical advice and support to young people with thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned about a young person who may have thoughts of suicide.<\/p>\n HOPELINE247 is staffed by trained professionals, offering a telephone, text and email service.<\/p>\n Back to top<\/a>The Martin Gallier Project <\/p>\n The Martin Gallier Project<\/a> are a Wirral-based charity dedicated to helping individuals and families across the North West of England. <\/p>\n They were the UK’s first Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention charity. The project offers non clinical suicide interventions on the high street, with no barriers to access, waiting list or criteria.<\/p>\n The service is open 7 days a week 9.30am-4.30pm – lines and emails are only monitored during these hours. <\/p>\n Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n Samaritans<\/a>\u00a0is an organisation offering confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. <\/p>\n Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n ANDYSMANCLUB is a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online.<\/p>\n It wants to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and create a judgement-free, confidential space where men can be open about the storms in their lives. <\/p>\n The charity runs weekly, free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups for men aged over 18. <\/p>\n Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n Suicide prevention centre in Liverpool offering life-saving support to men in suicidal crisis.<\/p>\n Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n YoungMinds<\/a>\u00a0is a resource with information on child and adolescent mental health, but also offers services for parents and professionals. <\/p>\n It is the UK\u2019s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health, and wants to make sure all young people can get the mental health support they need, when they need it<\/p>\n YoungMinds Textline – Text YM to 85258<\/p>\n Phone Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 4pm)<\/p>\n Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n EPiC HOPE is managed and run by a team of dedicated, passionate and compassionate people. Staff and volunteers who want to stop suicides and save lives.<\/p>\n Crisis HarboursAt the Crisis Harbours, our trained and compassionate Peer Supporters with lived experience are here to offer immediate support if you\u2019re going through a mental health crisis, including feeling suicidal. We provide a safe alternative to A&E and can help connect you to other support once the immediate crisis has passed.<\/p>\n Community HarboursAt the Community Harbours, you can drop in for a couple of hours in a safe, welcoming space. You might be going through a bereavement, a breakup, feeling lonely, or just need a chat. Whatever you\u2019re facing, you\u2019re welcome to join us for a brew and some friendly support, even if you\u2019re not in crisis.<\/p>\n