In September 2015, 17-year-old Helena Markey of The de Ferrers Academy, very sadly took her own life. This tragic incident has led her parents to tirelessly campaign for sweeping reforms in how schools manage student distress following examination results. Helena died soon after an important meeting at her school regarding her A-level grades. Her family and community, meanwhile, are left to face the grim reality of losing a bright young human life.
Following her death, Glen and Sharron Markey, her parents, started a movement. To this end, they are calling on the government to produce “clear, particular statutory direction” for schools and other educational settings. They are calling for stronger provisions that would make schools, colleges, and universities notify parents. This should be the case when a student is exhibiting distress concerning academic critique. The Markeys are right to insist that guidance is important to ensure protections for students. They want to protect students like Helena, who faced overwhelming stress while pursuing her education.
When Helena passed away, the school still did not have a formalized place for students in crisis to go. Absent was any staffer to offer brisk in-person guidance or assistance. Youth Services Director Glen Markey reminded that young people today are facing pressure like never before. I think [young people are] under more pressure these days than they’ve ever been, as in the last 60 years. This is very low hanging fruit, but it’s really important – this could definitely save lives,” he said.
The Markeys’ concerns were further validated by the coroner’s findings, which revealed that there was no legal process in place for schools to reach out to parents regarding their children’s emotional well-being following exam results. Without reliable support systems in place, the absence can be devastating—as it was for Helena.
“The most important thing the coroner said was that in law, there was no process for calling parents,” – Glen Markey
Helena at her first meeting to plan her course of study. Sadly, it became an object of incredible anguish, which contributed to her untimely death. One staff member shared how she once misled a girl into thinking she was going home to explain her score to her mother and father. Unfortunately, that assumption didn’t take into consideration the emotional distress Helena was going through.
The Markeys have recently upped their advocacy game. They planted an oak tree in memory of their daughter, representing their desire for new growth and change, while paying tribute to the long lasting effect Helena made in their lives. Sharron Markey expressed her desire to prevent similar tragedies: “We don’t want this to happen to other families.”
Their hard work has really started to pay off, leading to their cause getting attention from policymakers and mental health advocates alike. Jacob Collier, an influential figure in the campaign for educational reform, pledged his support: “The key thing in this campaign is that we see action from the government, so I’ll be taking this to the minister and raising the case of Helena and the campaign to hopefully bring about the change that we want to see.”
Collier additionally reflected on Helena’s spirit, citing her infectious positivity and smile. Nothing made me happier than Helena… I still smile thinking back on the smile that Helena had, that would light any room that she was in. Lastly, he personally thanked Glen and Sharron. Their courage in seeking to do an incredible thing for parents is deeply impressive.
As the Markeys noted, introducing a duty of care in educational environments could be very important. To them, it’s just good business. Sharron Markey articulated this sentiment clearly: “It’s just common sense – a duty of care.”
Glen and Sharron Markey continue to work to raise awareness for mental health issues. Just like you, they are committed to fighting the crisis that’s hurting our young people. Through sharing Helena’s story, they hope to motivate change. To prevent another family from going through the same heartache, that is their goal.
“There’s a mental health crisis out there with young people, but a new national policy [is] something we think will benefit teachers.” – Glen Markey
