A Birmingham family is advocating for major reforms in the mental health support system following the tragic death of their son, Tyran Jones, on what was supposed to be a celebratory day, Mother's Day, March 30. Tyran, aged 30 and from Northfield, had battled mental health issues, including anxiety and depression associated with autism, for over a decade.
Tina and Steve Jones described feeling profoundly let down by the National Health Service (NHS), alleging that their son had been "failed" at critical moments when he sought help. The tragic news of Tyran's death came while the family was at their caravan in Worcester, with their other son, Jamie, making the distressing call to inform them that Tyran had been found dead at his flat.
In the lead-up to his death, Tyran had made multiple attempts to seek assistance, having previously been sectioned at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on November 18, 2022, but was released in December after being admitted to a general medical ward rather than a psychiatric facility. His family claimed that he continued to express a desire for help, stating his need to be sectioned again under the Mental Health Act.
In his final week, Tyran was referred to The Oleaster, a mental health hospital in Edgbaston, by the Longbridge Mental Health crisis team. However, the family reported that he was initially told he could "come in for a bit" but was ultimately not admitted and instead left in a corridor, leading to his desire to leave. Steve Jones is quoted as having pleaded with the hospital for Tyran's admission but was unsuccessful in his efforts.
Tina Jones expressed her disbelief at the situation, indicating that the response from the hospitals did not align with their son's worsening state. "I wasn’t surprised when it happened, despite our grief," she said. “My son had the warnings but he never had the help. The health system is failing them. He should have got the support."
Following the devastating news, Tina recounted her feelings of anger as she received the call from Jamie, stating, “He was really unhappy. He kept asking for help and they weren’t helping him. That’s what I want changed." The family, in their grief, has taken to advocating for stricter mental health safeguarding policies in order to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.
They have initiated a petition on Change.org to call for better mental health safeguards, alleging that previous communications with social services and various mental health teams did not adequately address Tyran's needs prior to his passing. “We were going around in circles. He felt so alone. He felt he didn’t have any friends,” Tina shared, conveying the emotional toll of the family's struggles over the years.
Tyran’s sister’s partner, Leon, emphasised Tyran's character before his mental health challenges took over, describing him as a “gentle soul” and a “funny guy.” The evidence presented by the family underpins their assertion that the mental health system did not respond effectively during critical moments of need.
In response to the distressing situation, representatives from both Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Birmingham have extended their condolences and have stated that investigations are being launched to review previous contacts with Tyran to assess the circumstances leading to his death.
The investigation and the family's campaign continue as they seek to affect changes in the mental health support framework, highlighting the need for better safeguarding practices to ensure that individuals experiencing mental health crises receive appropriate care and attention.
Source: Noah Wire Services