An appeal has been launched to help an 18-year-old whose attempt to take his own life due to mental health problems has left him with severe brain damage.

Jack Barnes, who now lives in Pembroke Dock, was first diagnosed with borderline personality disorder at the age of 13 after taking an overdose for the second time.

In total he overdosed five times and self harmed himself, breaking his wrist by punching the wall on no fewer than five occasions.

Jack was referred to the local children and adolescent mental health unit where he received therapy.

Five years on and he was signed off from the unit last year and Jack became a student at Pembrokeshire College studying electrical installation.

“He was doing well and was top of his class,” explained his mum Helen.

“Then out of the blue, Jack walked out of the house and hung himself on March 4,” she continued explaining that by sharing Jack’s story helps raise awareness for other young people suffering similar problems.

“The police sergeant who found him managed to cut him down and revived him, but he has severe brain damage and I am fighting to get him into a neuro rehabilitation centre.”

Jack is a patient at Withybush Hospital where he is awake and alert, but has severe brain damage.

“Once he comes home, Jack will require round the clock care which I will be doing. He will also need specialist equipment, some of which will be provided by the NHS, but the rest I will have to fund myself,” continued Helen, who also has two other children, Jack’s twin sister Lucy and younger brother Jordan.

“I am a single parent and struggling with just the cost of fuel getting back and forth to hospital every day, but nevertheless have been overwhelmed by the support the community has shown us so far, especially as we have not long moved to Pembroke Dock from Saundersfoot.”

In just six days, the Jack Barnes Fund has raised over £1,700.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so via gofundme.com and search for Jack Barnes.