BASILDON and Billericay MP John Baron has met with the founder of The Craig Tyler Trust, Karen Pullen, whose son died after a struggle with mental health issues.

The Trust currently supports people in Basildon, Billericay and Wickford through their social media presence, drop-in centres, and outreach services while working closely with organisations such as Essex Police, Basildon Council and the St John Ambulance.

Karen was able to secure funding through the National Lottery Community Fund for a mobile mental health peer support unit which will be situated outside local shops, train stations and public spaces - making mental health support visible and accessible for anyone in need.

John Baron with Karen Pullen by the Memorial Bench for Craig in the park where he ended his life.

Mr Baron said: "I very much enjoyed meeting Karen and her team who are doing a great job in helping people touched by mental health issues and suicide. I will do what I can to help and we have promised to keep in touch."

 Karen said: "I was very pleased to welcome Mr Baron to the Trust and so happy he could spare the time to see the work that myself and everyone does to support so many in order to prevent more deaths by suicide. The ones who work so hard to fight to keep themselves safe everyday are the ones who deserve the recognition.

"Being bereaved by suicide is a tough road to walk, so to teach the tools to enable that journey to be continued with the least amount of pain is something so special to me. Something I promised Craig when he died by his own hand, was that I would do everything I could to help others and I am very pleased that John has recognised this by supporting us."