A DEVASTATED mum who tragically lost her son to suicide has today launched a mobile mental health unit to “give people a friendly face” of support.

Karen Pullen is on a mission to intervene and help with people in mental health crises as early as possible, with her mobile health support and suicide prevention unit.

The 44-year-old founded the Craig Tyler Trust in memory of her son who tragically took his own life in Pitsea on April 8, 2018 following a battle with his mental health.

Ms Pullen’s trust has been helping people with their mental health since 2018, taking on a surge of people who suffered during lockdowns due to Covid-19.

Today, the unit’s first session will be held outside Wickford Train Station from 8.30am to 4pm.

She said: “What we will do with the unit is we are going to be stationed outside the train station, and give mental health support and suicide prevention.

“There will be a team of us, we are all first aid and mental health support trained, working around mental issues, what to do in crises and how to improve mental health.

“At the moment everyone needs a friendly face.

“From the following week we will alternate between Billericay and Wickford Train Stations.”

Ms Pullen has been able to assemble the mobile unit, along with ten to 12 volunteers, thanks to thousands of pounds in funding from Basildon Council and the National Lottery Fund.

She said over the last three years since her son died, she has put everything into the charity to keep herself going and do him proud.

The charity has held two weekly drop-in centres for support, taking appointments online during the lockdowns. But since funding arrived in May this year, they have poured efforts into hitting the road.

Ms Pullen said: “I have put everything into the charity work. It helps me to help others. When Craig was ill there wasn’t really a lot of access to services, we weren’t aware of the access to services.

“We want to try and get to early intervention so that it doesn’t impact the NHS which is overrun with Covid. It’s so rewarding. I’ve had to stay up all night to keep people safe, but now they are doing great.”

The unit will be at Wickford station from 8.30am to 4pm www.thecraigtylertrust.co.uk/