A mother has been left feeling “empty” after her teenage son took his own life and has called for more funding for mental health services.
It comes following the conclusion of an inquest into the death of Kai Mogg, of Enterprise Gardens in Costessey, near Norwich, last year.
The body of the 18-year-old was discovered at a nearby building site at Britannia Way on July 4 after he was reported missing.
Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard how he had struggled for several years and had been given “little more than a flyer” following a suicide attempt less than a year before he died.
Speaking after the inquest, his mother Emma Woolfenden said: “Mental health service provision is seriously underfunded.
“It seems as though they are more concerned with protocols and standard operating procedures rather than treating service users.
“It seems as though none of the services are joined up and information is not shared.
“They forget there is a real-life person struggling.
“It is all well and good saying procedures will change after a tragedy has happened, but that won't bring my son back to me.
“When all is said and done, I don't expect anything will change.”
Ms Woolfenden described Kai as having “the courage of a lion” with a “bright future ahead of him”.
But she also cited the drug culture around his stunt scooter riding circle as the start of his struggles. Kai began riding them from the age of 12.
Although never “outwardly depressed”, she explained that his mental health began to deteriorate from the age of 14 after becoming “immersed” in drug use.
She added: “Being Kai's mum, I did everything that I could to try to protect him and guide him, but it was not enough.
“He needed professional help which quite simply was not available.
“As a family, our lives have been changed forever. It feels like there is an emptiness in the world.
“I will miss my beautiful son for the rest of my days, until we meet again.”
- Do you need support? Samaritans can be contacted 24/7 by calling 116 123. Alternatively, the NHS First Response Service can be reached on 111, selecting option 2.
- To pay tribute to a loved one, email norfolkobituaries@newsquest.co.uk
- To read all obituaries and tributes join the Facebook group Norfolk's Loved & Lost.
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