Jane Roberts, a grieving mother from Stroud, has launched a heartfelt campaign to fund a mental health bench in memory of her son, Ben Brimley, who sadly took his own life. Ben was diagnosed with ADHD at 17—more than a decade after concerns were first raised when he was just six years old.
Ben struggled with mental health challenges throughout his youth, worsened by the delayed diagnosis of his neurodivergence. After leaving Cirencester Sixth Form College, he turned to substance abuse, experimenting with ecstasy, ketamine, and heroin. Following a mental breakdown and several hospital stays, his prescribed antipsychotics did not address the root of his struggles: his overlooked ADHD.
Jane has since learned that many children with ADHD share similar experiences with self-blame and coping mechanisms involving drugs and alcohol. She believes that if Ben’s condition had been recognized earlier, his life might have been saved.
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Determined to raise awareness and support others facing mental health battles, Jane is fundraising to install a “Legend On The Bench” in Stroud. These benches, pioneered by ex-Spurs footballer Mickey Hazard after a personal family tragedy, offer a quiet space for reflection and provide discreet access to support resources via a built-in QR code.
The first such bench was placed in Peterborough in February 2024, and over 100 have since been installed across the UK, but none yet in Gloucestershire. Jane hopes her bench will bring comfort to those who need it, especially as Ben found solace in walking the local Rodborough Common, where she is seeking permission from the National Trust to place the bench.
Since beginning her campaign on April 26, Jane has already raised £800 toward the £2,300 goal, buoyed by strong community support after sharing the initiative on social media. The bench, equipped with lighting symbolizing a beacon of hope and inscribed with the phrase “Someone is always listening,” offers a sensitive yet powerful message for those struggling with mental health.
Jane emphasizes the urgency of addressing mental health challenges, especially as suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people aged 5-35. While awareness has improved since Ben’s diagnosis in 2008, she insists there is still much work to be done to support those living with ADHD and other mental health conditions.
This bench stands as a tribute to Ben’s memory and a beacon of hope for others facing similar struggles in Gloucestershire and beyond.