The Leeds mums fighting for better mental health support

On suicide awareness day, Radio Aire’s been speaking to the Leeds mothers taking matters into their own hands - to get better support for mental health problems.

We brought Emma Oliver and Sharon Burke together for the first time after their sons took their own lives within three months of each other last year.

They’re both campaigning for changes to the system after finding a lack of support in the months that followed.

“I think I’m one of the lucky ones,” says Emma from Gildersome.

“I get counselling. And that’s from the children’s hospice. Without that counselling I don’t know where I’d be right now.

'I've been inundated with parents telling me they're worried for their children' - Emma

“My mum and dad, who are older, don’t get counselling. In London the waiting list for counselling… you’re talking nearly a year. And they really, really need it.”

Emma’s been working with Radio Aire for the last year calling for every school to have a counsellor after her son Daniel Long took his own life whilst revising for his mock GCSEs at the age of 15.

She’s gone on to help dozens of families who reached out to her after hearing her story.

“I’ve been inundated with parents telling me they’re worried for their children,” she says.

“And there’s six month waiting lists. I’ve actually seen people at my house because they can’t get any help and I’ve said to the parents ‘look, I’m not a counsellor but I’ll sit down and talk through my experiences. Luckily I’ve managed to keep in touch with all of them.”

It comes as new figures reveal Leeds has the second highest rate of suicide in the country, with 71 people recorded as taking their own lives here last year.

The only place with a higher number was Birmingham, with 74 deaths recorded.

Sharon from Hunslet lost her 21-year-old son James Burke in April 2017. He was studying law at the University of Leeds and was also an international rugby player.

She also found a lack of support after James died: “You’re kind of circumnavigating the autopsy and statements and going through the whole inquest thing which is a nightmare… and there’s nothing.”

'I've got a job to do and James would expect nothing less from me' - Sharon

Sharon’s now preparing to launch the James Burke Foundation which will work with schools, sports groups and workplaces to deliver an educational programme and provide training with the aim of creating a network of ‘buddies’ to act as a listening ear.

It will also lobby for improved medical services and intervention, and create a network for bereaved people to disseminate information and other support services

“The only thing that will affect change is direct action,” Sharon says.

“Our boys were important enough for us to grasp the nettle and just do it.

“There isn’t a single day where I don’t wish I was with James. There isn’t a single morning where I’m not vaguely disappointed when I wake up.

“However his memories are too important. I’ve got a job to do and James would expect nothing less from me. We have to affect change, we have to make a difference."