THE heartbreak of a mum who lost her daughter to suicide has inspired her to help other young people by setting up a mental health support centre.

Gem Barrett faced every parent's worst nightmare when she found out her daughter Dené had taken her own life after a long battle with her mental health.

She vividly remembers the moment her life changed forever in February 2017 when the 22-year-old, from Bicester, 'fought her last battle'.

Mrs Barrett said: "Dené ended the pain, the mental war, and took her own life.

"We believe had Dené got the help she needed, and asked for: consistent, regular support, help in understanding herself and tools for coping with her pain and suicidal urges, then she would still be here today.

"We know she battled hard. We know she wanted to live to raise her son and achieve her ambition of becoming a psychotherapist.

"We also know that the mental health requirements of young adults are not being met."

Mrs Barrett has pledge to create a hub for holistic mental health support in her daughter's memory, a lasting legacy for both Mrs Barrett and her five-year-old grandson to continue.

She said: "It is something we had talked about, and my daughter was studying counselling at Banbury Counselling Academy and wanted to be a psychotherapist. We agree it was an idea we should revisit and see what we can do to help the community.

"After she died, the ideas just started pouring from my mind. So the end of last I started getting plans and stuff together."

The former children youth services worker hopes to open the support centre in Bicester and is currently in the process of raising awareness, raising funds and looking for premises.

'Nai's House', co-founded by Emma Chamberlain, will be run as a community interest company.

Mrs Barrett added: "We have this great big vision that I would imagine is kind of five years away.

"But ultimately our vision is unity through mental health, and raising awareness that conversation is not enough. Let's do something.

"Too many people talk about [changing] mental health [support], but there is not enough action.

"Everyone is responsible. It is about using mental health as a platform for positive change."

Nai's House hopes to provide holistic support for young people aged between 16 and 25 through battles with mental health.

It aims to be a non-clinical, flexible and easily accessible environment for mental health support.

This would include a place to talk and seek help, as well as general activities such as meditation or yoga therapy.

Mra Barrett would like to start the support work from spring but is dependent on funding, and finding a base to work from.

She added that she would like to thank sisters Melissa Smith and Rosie Chambers, along with Kieron Hogg.

For more information on the charity, or to donate funds or skills see naishouse.co.uk