'My son begged for help before he took his own life'

A mental health trust has launched an investigation after a mother told the BBC her son had taken his own life just weeks after "begging for support".

Tina Jones found out her son Tyran, 30, had died on Mother's Day, a week after he attempted suicide twice in two days.

The bereaved mother, from Northfield, said she held medics and adult social care teams responsible for his death, and demanded greater safeguarding measures to help others who were struggling.

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust expressed sympathy and said they were looking into the case.

Ms Jones, 56, said her son, a "gentle soul", had lived with autism, anxiety and depression for most of his life, and made at least seven suicide attempts over a period of 10 years, including five in the last year.

Tyran spent a number of months detained at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 2024 under the Mental Health Act.

He had also been treated for physical health issues there, but his family say he was on a general ward rather than one for mental health patients.

Ms Jones said her son had asked to be sectioned again this year, but his "cries for help were tragically ignored" on several occasions.

Tyran's mother alleged medics had discharged him multiple times after he attempted suicide but put no measures in place to safeguard him.

Weeks before he died he was convicted of smashing the window of a police car during a mental health episode, something his family said was out of character and showed he was at breaking point.

"People say 30 is no age for someone to die," Ms Jones said. "I think 30 was a long time to carry what he was carrying.

"It was down to services to support him [but] we've had no support."

Tyran's family, who run a flooring business, are calling on the government to enforce stricter guidelines for mental health safeguarding to prevent similar deaths.

They want people who have attempted suicide to be flagged on a central database so it is clear they are at risk.

They also say more should be done to force agencies to listen to families who express concerns.

Ms Jones added: "How can you discharge someone who has tried [to take their own life] two days in row? My only assumption is they didn't know [and there were] no notes about it.

"I will never know if sectioning Tyran and giving him support would have helped him through it.

"I'll never get the answer to that, because it never happened and I believe it should have happened."

The family are considering legal action against the hospital trusts involved in Tyran's case, and want to create a mental health hub in his memory.

Ms Jones added she was determined to speak about what had happened even though Tyran had not yet been buried.

She said she wanted to talk about it while it was "still raw" and had the ability to effect change.

"I want my son remembered," she said. "I don't want his life just taken for no reason. It's got to mean something. I want to make a change."

A spokesperson for Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We would like to express our sympathy to Tyran's family and friends as they deal with their loss.

"We have launched an investigation into any contacts we may have had with Tyran prior to his passing and will fully assist any potential inquest, should that be required."

University Hospitals Birmingham, which runs the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where Tyran was treated for physical and mental health issues, said no concerns had been raised with them by Tyran's family.

"Clearly, this is a complex, sad, and extremely recent event," a statement read.

"It would not necessarily feel appropriate to comment, other than to provide our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family who are understandably devastated and provide a commitment to supporting the family by answering any questions they may have."

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson also expressed sympathy and said it would co-operate with any potential inquest.

• If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.