Stephen’s Voice

15/11/2025

14/11/2025

Today, as we mark the eve of the anniversary of my son Matthew’s death, I am making this statement directly and publicly to those responsible for his care — those whose actions, inactions, and decisions contributed to a preventable tragedy.

Matthew did not die because his time had come.
He died because people who had a clear duty to protect him failed to do so.

In the hours leading up to his death, there were multiple opportunities for professionals to listen, to intervene, and to act with basic human decency.
Those opportunities were ignored.

Warnings were dismissed.
Risks were downplayed.
Documentation replaced compassion.
And the responsibility owed to a vulnerable young man was abandoned.

These failures were not abstract.
They were carried out by individuals who were trusted — by Matthew, by me, by the public — to uphold standards of care and safety.
Instead, Matthew was treated with indifference, carelessness, and disregard.

The result was fatal.

Matthew was a 20-year-old young man with a future.
He entered the care of professionals because he needed support.
He did not receive it.
He deserved protection.
He did not get it.

For years, attempts have been made to hide behind systems, policies, and procedure.
But systems do not fail on their own — people fail within them.
And the truth of those failures is now undeniable.

I want to make this absolutely clear:

I will continue to pursue full accountability.
I will continue to expose every failure.
And I will continue to ensure that Matthew’s name is not forgotten, nor the truth of what happened to him buried.

This is not just about my son.
It is about every vulnerable person whose safety depends on the integrity and competence of those in positions of trust.
The public deserve better.
Families deserve better.
Matthew deserved better.

To those who failed him: your actions are now part of the public record, and they will remain so.
I will not stop until justice is reached and until meaningful change ensures that no other family endures what mine has endured.

Matthew’s life mattered.
His story matters.
And the truth will be heard.

13/11/2025

This isn't "mental illness." These are drug effects, the body and brain's desperate response to powerful chemicals marketed as "medicine."💔

For every person who says these drugs "saved their life," there are millions more who were left with broken nervous systems, emotional numbness, destroyed relationships, and unbearable withdrawal symptoms no one warned them about.

These aren't "just rare side effects", they're outcomes of altering brain chemistry without understanding the long-term consequences.

Its time to stop calling this healing and call it what it is: harm disguised as help!

Thank you Akathisia Awareness for sharing this image.

13/11/2025

The New York Times reports a huge rise in SSRI prescribing for teens - up 69%, with some children starting as young as 11. And years after stopping, many young people say something fundamental has gone missing.

No fluttery feeling when they like someone.
No passion for the hobbies that once lit them up.
No excitement.
No spark. No creativity.

People are speaking out about Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction …..a condition that we’ve often highlighted that can linger long after the medication is stopped and it is far more common than most realise.

So why are we pushing these drugs onto an entire generation without honest conversations about risks, benefits, and alternatives?

Why is informed consent still the exception instead of the rule?

Young people deserve transparency.
They deserve options.
And they deserve to keep the parts of themselves that make life feel alive.

13/11/2025

My dear Matthew,
Two days before you left us we did not know the hours were slipping away. I still see your smile, your laughter, the light you brought into every room. I’d have held you tighter, told you again how proud I was of you—how much you meant to me, how deeply you are loved.

On 15 November 2012 you were gone. My world stopped. I wish I could have done more—been there in those final hours. I imagine you whispering that you were in pain, that you needed help, and I ache for the moment I didn’t reach you fast enough.

In the days that followed I felt lost without you. But I keep talking to you, Matthew—telling you about my day, about how life moves on yet how part of me stays with you, always. I see you in the sunrise, hear you in the quiet, feel you in the smallest kindnesses of others.

You were my son, my boy, my everything, and I carry you in my heart every day. I miss your laughter, your jokes, your kind heart. I miss you being here. But I know I will always be your mum and I will always love you—past time, past life, past everything.

Sleep softly, darling. I will find you in everything and I will never stop loving you. ❤️ — Mum

12/11/2025

Thank you to our friends AD4E: CPD events that challenge the culture of diagnosis and disorder. for highlighting our recently published anthology 'The Rest of the Story' today, showcasing how creativity can promote healing and voice. We hope you have had a great day at the festival today!

James Davies session summed up why we need a New Script for Mental Health. Much needed conversations and action!

11/11/2025

What happens when you swap 45 years on the pharmaceutical merry-go-round for a daily meditation practice?

David Rosenstein can answer this. At 67, he took up meditation and, over time, found himself able to slowly and safely taper off psychiatric drugs.

As he shares in his new story just published on our site, his experience is his alone, and what was right for him may not be right for everyone.

What his story does show is that it’s never too late to try new approaches. For David, that means he now feels “a profound sense of coherence between my deepest values and my daily actions.”

See the link in the comments to read David’s full story and keep an eye out for details on our live Q&A with him coming soon.

11/11/2025

Suicides involving antidepressants have risen by 25 per cent since lockdown, with women now more likely than men to take their own lives using the drugs.

The figures follow a coroner’s warning after the death of financier Thomas Kingston, 45, husband of Lady Gabriella Kingston, who took his own life in February after “adverse effects” from medication. The coroner said the antidepressant could cause further deaths without tougher warnings.

10/11/2025

💜

10/11/2025

Sometimes the hardest truth to hear is the one we never expected. Medications are meant to heal, to protect, to help us live better lives…..but for some, even when taken exactly as prescribed, they can cause harm.

We share Stephen’s story not to scare or judge, but to raise awareness. To remind everyone that side effects, interactions, and unexpected reactions are real, and that families deserve to be informed and supported.

We know how hard life can get, and we will never judge anyone for making choices about their own care. But understanding the risks can save lives…..and sometimes, speaking up can change outcomes for someone else.

Let’s start more honest conversations. Let’s listen, learn, and support each other 💜