A dad who lost his daughter to suicide has stressed the importance of raising awareness of mental health issues and encouraging youngsters to talk.

Libby Ralph, who was born in Gravesend, was just 18 years old when she died in January 2019, following a long struggle with her mental health.

Her dad Graham said: “Libby was a beloved daughter, sister, and friend who touched the lives of many with her infectious spirit and kind heart.

“She was a keen dancer, gymnast, trampolinist, and artist who also enjoyed poetry and all things creative.

He added: ”Libby was a beautiful, vibrant girl, passionate about gymnastics, trampolining, dance, and art, who left an indelible mark on all who knew her.”

The 57-year-old, who now lives in Bromley, felt the time was right five years after she died, to do something in Libby’s memory.

“It’s about coming to terms with it five years on. The pain never goes away. It just gets a little less raw and it felt the time was right to do this.

“Libby self-diagnosed and was aware enough to know she had a problem. She started the initial conversations and I want to raise awareness and encourage young people to have those first conversations so they can then get the interventions they need.”

Graham has organised a fundraising walk to mark the anniversary.

The 150-mile Red Balloon Walk, named after Libby’s favourite song Nena’s 99 Red Balloons, is to raise awareness of teenage mental health and suicide prevention.

Graham said: “Libby wanted to help others with their mental health problems. After she was discharged from hospital she started her own you tube channel called Recovery with Elizabeth.

“It was clear that she wanted to do lots of videos but after the two she published things went down hill rapidly and she did no more.

“It is important to get people talking and having that first conversation. It is about raising awareness of where you can go for help.”

Libby was born in Gravesend, and spent the first three years of her life in Borough Green before moving to East Sussex.

Whilst flying high winning gymnastics and trampoline trophies in her teenage years Libby also suffered from a number of mental illnesses including Anorexia Nervosa, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder resulting in her being sectioned for almost a year at the age of 17.

Less than five months after being released, Graham said Libby decided to end her life as she had lost hope and felt that she was saving herself and her family the pain of living through the illnesses she had.

The walk will span eight days, starting in Gravesend on May 22 and finishing in High Hurstwood, in East Sussex.

Libby's dad is doing the whole walk and will be joined in parts by loved ones, including Libby’s brothers William, 21 and Charlie, 25.

The family and friends will visit important locations associated with the teenager’s life, starting at her grandparents home in Gravesend, before taking in the hospital she was born in, her first childhood home in Borough Green, her dad’s former home in Tunbridge Wells and her memorial bench in Calverley Gardens.

It will take in Ashdown Forest, where her father used to read Winnie the Pooh stories to Libby; Chalkhill Hospital, in Haywards Heath where Libby was an inpatient and go via Beachy Head to Brighton Marina where Graham will visit, for the first time, the place Libby took her own life.

The walk will then pass the three homes she lived in in Crowborough and on day four will cover Eastbourne and Haywards Heath. It will finish with a service at her burial site in High Hurstwood.

Funds raised will go towards helping the work of PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide charity and the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, and has the support of the Charity for Civil Servants.

Graham said: “By shining a light on these critical issues we hope to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak.”

Graham, a senior civil servant in the Home Office organised the walk with Libby’s brothers, Charlie and Will.

He said: “This extraordinary journey symbolizes the strength and unity of the Ralph family in the face of adversity.

"We are deeply committed to honouring Libby's memory by advocating for better mental health support for teenagers and preventing future tragedies.

“This walk represents a journey of love, remembrance, and hope."

To donate click on this link.

The Ralph family is inviting individuals and organisations to join them. For more information about the walk and how to get involved contact: Graham on grahamralph1967@yahoo.co.uk.