Voices Of Support

Voices of Support

Alongside 105,000+ signatures, many organisations, campaigners and professionals lent their voices to this campaign:

Alongside 105,000+ signatures, organisations, campaigners and professionals lent their voices to this campaign:

• AIM (Autistic Inclusive Meets) — autism advocacy
• Anna Kennedy Online — autism charity & campaigning platform
• AVMA (Action Against Medical Accidents) — patient safety & justice
• CCHR (Citizens Commission on Human Rights) — human rights in mental health
• Restraint Reduction Network — ending restrictive practices
• INQUEST — charity for families bereaved by deaths in state care
• Hodge Jones & Allen (HJA) — human rights and social justice law firm
• Carrie and David Grant MBE — broadcasters and mental health advocates
• Justice for David — campaign page
• Hope Is Contagious (Maggie Watts) — pancreatic cancer awareness campaign
• Neville Southall MBE — mental health advocate
• SANE Charity — mental health emotional support
• SANEline — emotional support helpline 4-10 pm
• Rob Behrens CBE — (retired) Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman
• Sean Fletcher — YoungMinds ambassador & campaigner

Parliamentary Support (Hansard & Official Statements)

These quotes show how MPs across parties recognised the petition and Melanie Leahy’s campaign:

“The petition attracted 105,580 UK signatories in support. I have spoken to the petitioner, Melanie Leahy, on a number of occasions, and I pay tribute to her for starting the petition. She wrote: ‘I request a full public inquiry into death of my son, Matthew Leahy. (20 yrs.) …’”

Mike Hill MP — Hansard, 30 Nov 2020

“The circumstances of the debate are truly heartbreaking … I add my voice to calls for independent investigations and inquiries.”

Janet Daby MP — Hansard, 30 Nov 2020

“I thank all those who set the scene and the Petitions Committee for what it did. Our hearts go out to our constituents.”

Jim Shannon MP — Hansard, 30 Nov 2020

“Justice can only be done through a statutory public inquiry — and the petition signed by over 100,000 people shows why.”

Norman Lamb MP — Hansard, 30 Nov 2020

“I have been supporting Melanie Leahy. Serious questions have been raised about her son’s treatment at the Linden Centre and his death.”

Priti Patel MP — Written Evidence, 23 May 2019

“After all this time, Melanie deserves some answers. I support her call for a statutory public inquiry into Essex mental health services … It is crucial that lessons are learned.”

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP — Press Statement

“It was simply heart-breaking to hear families’ accounts … I am so sorry for the pain that all of the families have to live through while fighting for justice and answers.”

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP — Families Roundtable

“Melanie Leahy … brought the issue to our attention … She deserves a lot of support for the way she has conducted herself.”

Sir John Whittingdale MP — Hansard, 12 Mar 2024

Read the debate: Hansard — Westminster Hall (30 Nov 2020)
More records: Hansard — Health & Wellbeing Services: Essex (12 Mar 2024)

A Personal Thank You

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the 105,000+ people who signed the petition, everyone who shared Matthew’s story, and all who stood beside me during the hardest years of my life.

Your signatures, voices and solidarity gave strength to a mother’s campaign for truth and accountability. Without you, there would never have been a parliamentary debate, nor the inquiry we fought so hard to secure.

This campaign has never been about Matthew alone — it has always been for every family failed by a system that should protect them. Together, we have shown that change is possible when voices unite.

Thank you for standing with me — always.