A PENYSARN mum who set up a mentoring service for young people with mental health issues is Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie’s first Hidden Hero of 2023.

Kerry Davies-Jones launched the service following the suicide of her son Kale in 2018 aged 19; Kale, took his own life a few days after Christmas in 2018. The teenager had been suffering from psychosis and was found dead in his flat in Amlwch the day after he had been sent home by doctors at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, after an overdose.

The initiative Kerry has set up allows a young person a safe space to talk and be listened to using people who take the time to help, advise and listen to young people and their problems.

The 43-year-old hopes it will mean other Anglesey families will not have to face the loss of a loved one from suicide.

Kerry said: “I would like to thank Virginia for this award and her support. I hope it raises awareness of what I am doing and that more young people come forward to be matched with mentors.

“Mentors have the potential to become lifelong friends, or the relationship might only last until you've achieved a goal, there's no one size fits all but I believe each mentor makes a huge difference."

Virginia said: “Kerry is a worthy first Hidden Hero winner for 2023 and I wish her all the best in her work.

“Mentoring is something very close to my heart as is the heartache of losing a loved one to suicide. My brother took his life and Kerry and I have that bond in grief but also that desire to get something positive from it.

“I am a huge supporter of what she is doing and I will do all I can to help her and her brilliant and life-saving work.”

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Kerry is looking for more supporters for the programme. Anyone that is able to help is asked to email kerryelizabethdaviesjones@gmail.com