A KIDDERMINSTER man has walked from the town to Westminster in a bid for improved mental health services for young people in memory of his ‘amazing’ son Mitch.
On Easter Sunday, 2019, Robert Collins’ son Mitch lost his battle with his mental health at the age of just 16.
The idea for Mitch’s Law was created by his parents, Rob and Lisa, soon after, so that no young person would be left without support.
Robert announced the walk to Downing Street to hand-deliver the petition at Mitch’s wake, and earlier this month braved a two-week-long trek to raise awareness for the ‘Mitch’s Law’ petition.
Robert told the Standard: “The walk was amazing. Although I suffered an injury to my knee, my wife Lisa stepped in and walked for three days, and our son Drew, Mitch’s brother, walked for the final three days; we did it as a family.”
Robert kept people up to date with the walk by posting pictures and videos of his exploits on his social media page.
The walk began from Mitch’s school bench at Wolverley Secondary School and saw him pass through Chaddesley Corbett, Bromsgrove, Studley, Haselor, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Kiddington before arriving at Downing Street.
Mitch’s Law, which aims to provide a cross-party commitment to provide funding to address the rise in our young people suffering with matters regarding their mental health.
The hope is that Mitch’s Law, if approved, will provide a funding pot to allow charity mental health care workers to be situated on-site in schools, helping to reduce the long waiting times for referrals.
The petition has risen by over 350 signatures since the walk began, bringing the total up to 13.800 people.
In roughly three months’ time, Mitch’s loved ones will return to Parliament to hand-deliver the petition.
Robert added: “Everyone who has supported us has been amazing, but they are all as determined as we are to bring changes.”
Go to: change.org/p/uk-parliament-change-to-services-regarding-young-people-s-mental-health? to sign the petition.
