The grieving mum of a teenage girl who took her own life is pleading for a change to the way mental health in young people is dealt with.

Denise Nicol, 50, of Beverley Rise, Billericay, is running the London Marathon in memory of her 16-year-old daughter, Harriet, who died two weeks after she was diagnosed with depression.

Denise, an art teacher at Mayflower High School, described her final conversation with her daughter on the night she died.

She said: “I went to pick up Fran from the airport. I left Harriet at home, my mum was in touch with her and she said, ‘I’m fine’.

“Unfortunately, she had an argument with someone, just a normal teenage thing, it was not the cause but it triggered her. Harriet was anxious and she called me a few times.

“She called at about 11.30pm, she asked; ‘where are you?’ I told her we were diverted from the motorway because of roadworks. She said; ‘how long you going to be?’ I said, ‘I really do not know’.

“And that is the last time I spoke to her.”

When Denise returned home, Harriet was found unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Denise is now calling for quicker care and interventions in teenagers and young people who show signs of depression or mental health struggles. She said: “I feel there needs to be more done, and a quicker response when young people are crying for help. I know there is a growing number of youngsters with mental health issues.

“The aim is to make people aware of mental health issues with our youngsters.

“Our NHS needs to act quicker in offering counselling or cognitive therapy. When the child needs it, it cannot wait.”

Denise hopes that taking on the marathon can help bring more awareness of the needs of children suffering with mental health struggles, who today are faced with huge challenges as a result of self image and social media.

She said: “I am training with two PE teachers from Mayflower, Katie Lester and Sharley Smith but it’s not moved forward as much as I would like because I have had a couple of injuries. I did the marathon three times 20 years ago as well.”

Denise will be supporting mental health charities, Mind and the Mental Health Foundation, when she takes on the 26 mile task.

She has so far raised £1,290 alongside her Mayflower colleagues on their fundraising page. She hopes that running the marathon will raise more awareness of mental health in young people.

Denise thanked the community in Billericay for their support after Harriet’s death and her secondary school, St Martins in Brentwood. Donate at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/runforharriet