Foundation campaigning for mental health hotline

A devastated family whose son killed himself during the pandemic is campaigning for the mental health equivalent of 999 so people who are struggling can always get support. Cal Stuart was just 23 years old when he left his home in January 2021 and never came back.

He had lost two close friends to suicide within 18 months and, as a worker in the hospitality industry, he had been deeply affected by a lack of work during lockdowns.

His family set up the Calzy Foundation in his memory to give a voice to young people who have been deeply affected by the mental health crisis.

They did this after being approached by friends of his who were struggling to come to terms with what happened.

Cal’s dad Alan said: “He was hugely popular. He had a smile that would break anyone’s heart, but he also suffered increasingly from depression and a heightened sense of anxiety coming out of Covid.

“We talked openly with him about that, and he was on managed medication with the GP and had a really good relationship with the GP.

“But on the 7th of January 2021, he walked out to go to the shop and didn’t come back. We lost him to suicide on that evening. 

“He was my best friend and I continue to talk about him as my hero as well as being my son.”

The family is now campaigning for a three-digit number which would work similarly to 999 and 111 but would just be for mental health issues and would be manned by fully trained experts. 

Mr Stuart added: “The current campaign for the 24/7 emergency helpline is really from our own experience of, as a family, searching for support in dark moments since we lost Cal.

“The system just failed. The foundation of this campaign is that we want an easy-to-remember three-digit number on parity with 999 and 111 that people have in their psyche, it’s there, and it’s memorable. It’s 24/7 365 days a year.

“It will be operated by mental health practitioners who would assess and then triage through to the most appropriate service for that person at that time.

“That might well be emergency services [for someone who is at immediate risk of suicide at that moment].

“It might be that someone is just in a very dark place and sitting in the corner of their kitchen with all the lights off, with the call handler asking them ‘Okay, are you okay?

“’Are you safe? Here are the options you can go to and here are when they’re open.’”

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

The 60-year-old added: “What we would envisage is that the support services that currently operate will actually get more calls, but they’ll get more appropriate calls.

“The campaign for this number is really ‘Let’s give people who are in trauma or crisis something easy and accessible, non-judgemental that they know exists’.

“They know that they will then get that point of support and triage at the right point and the right time.

“If Cal had had that number we’re convinced it would have saved his life.

“And we know from our daughter’s experience, they were very close as siblings, she’s been in the darkest of moments as we all have, where we haven’t had texts or messages back from the support services that are currently out there.”

Cal’s sister Sian, 28, said: “[Since I lost Cal to mental illness] I too have been in a constant battle with my mental health.

“I have reached out many times for support, always feeling like I don’t know who to call or where to go, and many times I’ve been unable to get through in moments of extreme crisis.

“I know that a three-digit distinct number would have helped me and my brother in our darkest of times.”

Don’t miss…
Seaside village with one of UK’s best beaches becoming infamous for its Pontins[PICTURED]
Jaw-dropping moment gigantic sea monster devours shark in one gulp[WATCH]
‘Zombie Hunter’ serial killer sentenced to die by lethal injection for murders[REPORT]

The family has set up a petition about this issue, which so far has been signed by just under 60,000 people.

They will be meeting with Maria Caulfield, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for mental health, this week to talk about their campaign which has the backing of their local MP in Chipping Barnet, Theresa Villiers. It also has the support of Labour MP Rachael Maskell.

Mr Stuart added: “The system is broken. We know that.

“We can’t ever pretend to try and fix the whole system but a number that people know ‘that’s the number I call when I’m at this point’ will help. 

“We want a number that Cal didn’t have. We will be wanting to push this petition to the Government for debate. We want to push the conversation on this.”

Click here to sign the petition for a mental health emergency number.

The Samaritans can be reached round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on the phone. You can reach them by calling 116 123, by emailing [email protected] or by visiting www.samaritans.org. 

Source: Read Full Article