The mum 'begging' for change after son takes own life

The grieving mum of a 19-year-old student who took his own life has 'begged' for more to be done to try to prevent similar tragedies.

Beck Bromley, who had just completed his first year at the University of Manchester, was pronounced dead at the Royal Stoke University Hospital days after being found hanged at his family home in Leek, Staffordshire, in November last year.

A CT scan revealed a hypoxic brain injury. An inquest has since ruled that Beck took his own life, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.

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North Staffordshire assistant coroner Daniel Howe earlier listened to a desperate plea from Beck's mum, Frances Bromley.

She told the inquest: "We would like to use this opportunity to make a heartfelt plea, not only on behalf of the one-in-50 people in the UK who will at some time experience the symptoms of bipolar disorder, but also on behalf of their families, friends and extended communities. I am standing here today as a mother, grieving the loss of her son. And I am in the gut-wrenching position to see things that, if done differently, might, just might have saved our son's life.

"To the medical community, I beg you to find a way to help those whose thinking is so impaired that they cannot help themselves. When families come to you pleading for help, don't turn them away because the child is over 18 and at the height of their first manic episode refuse to request care themselves.

"Remember, when you are communicating with family members of someone in mental distress, that they are not medical professionals, that they are often frightened, sleep deprived, exhausted and confused. Do not simply assume that they know how to best provide care for