Video urges children not to suffer in silence at exam time
We've worked with the family of a Leeds schoolboy who took his own life
As children across Leeds sit their exams, Radio Aire’s teaming up with the family of a Leeds teenager who took his own life to urge them not to suffer in silence.
We’ve worked with Daniel Long's family to make a video telling his story and highlighting the importance of speaking out if you’re struggling.
Today the GMB Union is sending it to schools across Yorkshire, urging them to share it with pupils and parents.
Gildersome schoolboy Daniel Long was just 15 when he decided to end his own life after developing acute anxiety whilst revising for his mock GCSEs in February last year. He was getting top grades but became fixated on revising.
He didn’t tell his family or friends how he was feeling, and they’re now urging other young people to seek help if they’re feeling anxious.
“Even if it’s not about GCSES...if you’re mate’s feeling a bit off recently, just speak to them and ask them if they’re okay,” says Bracken, 17.
“Harass them until they give you an answer. You don’t think of the worst because you don’t think it will be you, but just go out and ask them. Because it could be the littlest thing or it could be a big thing, and you might have saved your best mate’s life.”
Daniel’s mum Emma Oliver says she hopes showing the effect his death has had on his everybody around him might make another young person reconsider taking their own life.
“He was such a good kid,” she says.
“He wanted to be a lawyer, and he would have become a really good lawyer. But he was just so, so stressed. I wouldn’t want any other family to go through what I’ve been through. Because it doesn’t get any easier, you just survive the days.
“The statistics are that 200 school children take their own life every year. And Daniel is one of them. That’s 200 other parents that are going through the same thing as I am. And next year there’ll be another 200.
“If I can just save one life, then that’s really, really good.”
Anyone looking for help with their mental health can visit the MindMate website, which was created by young people for young people in Leeds.
This is part of our Problem Shared campaign to get a counsellor in every school so that every child has somebody to talk to.
You can sign our petition here.