YOUNG Islanders should not feel anxious about seeking support for their mental health, a close friend of popular skateboarder Danny Cram has said following the conclusion of the inquest into his death.

Eddie da Rocha, who helped set up the Danny Cram Foundation in his friend’s name, hopes that important lessons can be learned which can save lives in the future and create “something positive” from Mr Cram’s tragic death.

At the conclusion of yesterday’s inquest, it was ruled that 25-year-old Mr Cram had taken his own life after a string of opportunities to intervene and provide mental-health support were missed.

During the hearing, it was heard that Mr Cram had a history of mental health struggles and had sought private counselling after being told of long public waiting lists. He reported having previously attempted to take his own life when seen by doctors, but, despite this, the crisis line deemed him as “routine” – the lowest level of concern. He did not attend a scheduled appointment a few days later and was found dead on 2 December 2024.

Mr da Rocha said that Deputy Viscount Matthew Berry’s findings made important suggestions that need to be taken forward by the Island’s mental-health services.

He said: “We have to trust the mental-health [services] in Jersey that they will give the right support, and obviously for younger adults not to be worried about coming to get the help. So, as much as some things may have failed him, it might have a positive impact because it may not fail the next person and save someone else’s life.

“If we take notes and we do what is right, and everyone works as a collaborative team, we can do so much for the community and for mental health in Jersey.”

He added that the foundation set up in Mr Cram’s name would honour “his legacy” and provide much-needed support for young adults and their families.

“We wanted to take it into our own hands to try to help the community with resources. So the Danny Cram Foundation obviously is to remember Daniel, but it is also to bring people closer, to give them awareness of suicide and mental health and to try to bring more of a positive impact to Jersey.

“Hopefully, from such a bad event that happened with Danny, we hope to be able to take it forward into a positive – whether it’s saving lives, speaking to people, giving people a voice, helping the community with events or with many other things.”

Remembering Mr Cram, who was an avid member of the Island’s skating and surfing communities, Mr da Rocha said: “ Danny was a loving boy, very caring, very open-hearted.

“He would include everyone, [was] friends with everyone, loved by everyone, very loved by his family, his friends.

“Danny was very much a person who would just be himself, and I think nowadays it’s very difficult to find people like that – where they can just be themselves and not care about judgment or anything. And I think that’s what a real human is.”

Mr da Rocha described his friendship with Mr Cram and the time the pair spent together as “authentic” despite being “very different” characters.

“I think that’s why it worked so well,” Mr da Rocha said. “One was a bit more nuts. One was a bit more composed in the sense that I was a bit more chill, but it just worked perfectly. [He was] just a beautiful character, in and out.”

Despite feeling that the system had failed his friend, Mr da Rocha said the outcome of the inquest was not about “passing blame” and instead moving forwards in a positive way.

“I would never want to sit here and give a message to say ‘don’t get help’. Please – I want everyone that is feeling a sort of way, whether you’re depressed or you have suicidal thoughts or anything, to please get help. Call the crisis team. Call the right people, and get the right help that you need, because obviously every single life is so important, and there is such an effect on everyone around you. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and you are just as important as the next person.”