North East mother shares her heartbreak after her daughter told her she wanted to take her own life

As we continue our Charley's Campaign in memory of 12-year-old Charley Patterson, we're hearing more shocking cases of children from the North East struggling with their mental health.

After launching our campaign which aims to raise awareness for young people struggling with their mental health, we were contacted by a parent who asked to remain anonymous. We've kept their names anonymous as the family said their daughter could be targeted by bullies.

The parent told us how hearing of the death of Charley Patterson has encouraged her 12 year-old daughter speak more openly about her mental health: "My daughter has been bullied from primary school and it's followed her into secondary school. She's been told to go kill herself and recently they made comments about her dad who's recently died. It's really affected her, she has no self-esteem and she's even said she doesn't feel worthy to be here."

We understand that the family have looked for support before as the 13 year-old struggled with her mental health and has self-harmed in the past. The mother told us she's been heartbroken when she was recently contacted by the NHS Crisis team: "My daughter did know Charley so when she heard about her death it did affect her. I didn't know how much my own daughter was struggling. Recently she's opened up to a school nurse and said that she wanted to take her own life and had contemplated drinking a bottle of bleach. Now as her parent that's just crushed me."

After revealing her thoughts to a school nurse, the crisis team were contacted and the 12 year-old and her family are now receiving help with her mental health. The mother has told us how she believes our campaign has helped: "After what's happened with Charley, I do think that it's all come to ahead with my daughter. She has been able to speak out, not to me but to that school nurse and we are being supported. I honestly don't think that would have happened if Charley hadn't done what she did. In a way I think it's made people more aware that kids and young people need more help."

The parent revealed that she is grateful for the current support she's receiving but thinks it shouldn't take a young person saying they want to take their own life before they receive support: "I feel my child may be one of many out there who are struggling with their mental health and more needs to be done about it. My daughters been bullied while been struggling with grief after the death of her and there's been nothing. It shouldn't take the death of child for people to get support. This is way I think this campaign is so important it's raising awareness. I will support this campaign and Charley's family too as I really believe that there needs to be more support out there for young people struggling."

If your a child and feeling affected by any of the issues in this news story call Childline on 0800 1111 or if your an adult feeling affected you can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org.