THE first anniversary of the suicide of a teenage Islander has been marked by the launch of a fund, which has already amassed £125,000 in donations, as well as the planting of a tree at her former school.
Kezia Mason (14) died on 7 March last year. Her family and friends have since encouraged Islanders to honour her memory through raising awareness and funds to help young people with mental-health problems.
The campaign, initiated by Kezia’s older brother, Ben, broke a series of initial targets – and as it passed the £100,000 mark the decision was taken to launch a fund, which will be managed by the Jersey Community Foundation. Ben Mason received three Pride of Jersey awards last September recognising the success of his campaign.
Kezia’s father, Rob, said it was important that the money raised was used in the most effective way.
He said: ‘The fundraising far exceeded what we expected, and now we need to make sure that we manage the money appropriately and reach the right places.
‘We like how the Jersey Community Foundation works – it has a much better reach into the third sector than we could achieve, and we will continue to have some input regarding where the money goes.’
The current total of funds raised – £125,000 – is set to be supplemented over the next three months through an offer from a private donor to match donations made prior to 4 June on a pound-for-pound basis up to a total of £15,000.
Organisations that work to improve children and young people’s mental wellbeing are now able to apply for grants.
The Mental Health Foundation has estimated that one in ten children and young people have poor mental health, with 70% of children and young people experiencing mental-health problems not having access to appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age.
Mr Mason said that the fund would also be able to handle the proceeds of future fundraising, such as the Run4Kezia, which was organised by friends at Jersey College for Girls and will take place for the second time this September.
Jersey Community Foundation chief executive Anna Terry said: ‘The work Ben has done to raise money for mental health is remarkable, especially during a time of profound grief. We will work to ensure the fund reaches those who need it most.
‘It is our sincere hope that, as an island, through early intervention and investment, we can better support our children and young people and ultimately help prevent future tragedy.’
Mr Mason, his wife, Esther, and other family members, including Kezia’s three living grandparents, joined pupils and staff from JCG on Saturday as a tree was planted in the memorial garden established in memory of former Victoria College student Harry Zambon, who died of a brain tumour.
‘We’re very honoured that JCG chose to do this,’ Mr Mason added. ‘It will be good for the girls to have a point of focus to remember Kez, as JCG was a big part of her life during the 3½ years that she was there.’
An inquest which concluded last November heard that Kezia had been ‘jovial and chatty’ on the way home from a theatrical rehearsal just a few hours before she was found by her father as he went to wake her before school.
The inquest heard that although Kezia had faced some of the challenges common to many teenagers, there was nothing to suggest she would take her own life.
Relief coroner Cyril Whelan said he was ‘certain in the highest degree’ that Kezia had died as a result of suicide, formally recording his finding that she had ‘taken her own life while suffering anxiety, low mood and depression’.
lDonations to Kezia’s fund can be made via kezias-fund.raisely.com, while details for organisations interested in making a grant application are available at jerseycommunityfoundation.org. Applications can be addressed to grants@jerseycommunityfoundation.org, and the closing deadline is 4 June.
