A determined man has spoken out about the grief of losing a dear friend to suicide, and hopes to raise awareness of issues surrounding mental health.

Janet Deardon, who was originally from Mill Hill but lived in Hayes, sadly died on July 22, 2014.

She took her own life after a history of depression. She had to flee Hayes due to an abusive partner and started afresh in nearby borough, Hammersmith and Fulham.

It was there, thanks to a chance meeting in March 2014, that she met close friend, Andrew Samuels.

He told getwestlondon: “Janet was a warm and friendly person. If she saw someone else who needed help or needed something she would give it.

“Because of her personality she had this ability to reach out to people. She would talk to people and immediately they would feel comfortable with her.

“It was wonderful to watch, she was gifted in that way and a real loss because of that.

“She wanted to get out of her mental health problems so she could help other people”.

Janet's death was ruled as suicide on Wednesday, January 27 at the West London Coroner's Court.

Thanks to Janet, 40, who sadly left behind three children, Mr Samuels was inspired to change careers, from an IT manager to helping at Uxbridge Mind.

Janet Deardon

'Time to talk'

Mr Samuels explained that social services took Janet's son at the same time she was hospitalised for treatment, prior to her death.

He said: “People with mental health problems hide their problems.

“They're very good at putting up a front and keeping things private.

“Unfortunately that's the worst thing you can do because you do need to talk to people and you need to share."

Mr Samuels supports charity 'Time To Change' who will have a Time to Talk Day on Thursday, February 4, to promote conversations about mental health and tackle stigma surrounding them.

He feels talking about issues is key to the prevention of suicide, as well as health care providers making changes.

He said: “Janet went to get help at the hospital and they actually turned her away and sent her home.

"When she asked for her son back that same morning they said no. So one of the only supports she had was taken away from her.

“From that point her decline was huge. She was a strong individual at that time, and I watched her fall from that height.

“People about to commit suicide show patterns of behaviour and one of them is withdrawing from services, because that's when they make the decision that they're going to do it. They make plans.

“When she withdrew from services, with her history, they just accepted it. That should have been the red light.”

Mr Samuels now hopes call on MPs to make changes to policy on mental health and continue his work raising awareness of the issues surrounding mental health.