Roman Kemp was praised by fans for his incredibly moving BBC Three documentary The Fight For Young Lives, which aired Wednesday.
The Radio presenter, 30, has been campaigning through his social media and documentaries following the passing of his late friend Joe Lyons, who took his own life after he wrestled his mental health alone.
His documentary sees him immersed in schools, youth centres and treatment settings around the country, meeting experts and charities, and visiting the Houses of Parliament.
In his first documentary Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, Roman revealed he’d contemplated suicide in 2019 and had been helped by his mother rushing to his side.
And ever since, he has tried to understand the potential solutions for improving the mental health of young people in the UK today and continued to be open about his own mental health with his large social media following.
Helping: Roman Kemp, 30, was praised by fans for his incredibly moving BBC Three documentary The Fight For Young Lives, which aired Wednesday
Incredible: The Radio presenter has been campaigning through his social media and documentaries following the passing of his late friend Joe Lyons, who took his own life after he wrestled his mental health alone
In the documentary, a crucial moment saw Roman battle the Government to make sure 100% of schools have access to mental health support teams – which at the time of filming the documentary was only 36%.
As he reached out to MP’s through his social media, Roman received heaps off responses from his followers, but less from politicians.
During the documentary, Roman reported the governments’ response to his letter.
It wrote: ‘We are rolling out mental health support teams to schools and colleges across the country and more than one third of all pupils and students now have access to these teams a year earlier than planned.
‘We are committed to extended coverage to at least 50% of pupils in England by the end of March 2025 but our ambition is to go further and we will continue to evaluate the impact of these teams and consider how more people can access support.’
After watching the hour-long documentary, viewers gushed to X, formerly known as Twitter to commend Roman’s work – with some urging him to continue the fight.
Some wrote: ‘Heartbreaking to watch but makes you realise what needs to be done in this world. I wouldn’t even know where to start and as a parent it made me think and ask questions. Thank you and keep going Roman’.
‘Great documentary. Thankyou for all you have done. This shouldn’t be all on your shoulders, Roman. You have started something amazing & now it is up to all of us to put pressure on the inept Government. Hope you & your family are well & hope you give yourself a break’.
Making a difference: His documentary sees him immersed in schools, youth centres and treatment settings around the country, meeting experts and charities, and visiting the Houses of Parliament
Opened up: In his first documentary Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, Roman revealed he’d contemplated suicide in 2019 and had been helped by his mother rushing to his side
Step by step: And ever since, he has tried to understand the potential solutions for improving the mental health of young people in the UK today and continued to be open about his own mental health with his large social media following
Incredible work: After watching the hour-long documentary, viewers gushed to X, formerly known as Twitter to commend Roman’s work – with some urging him to continue the fight
‘Oh Roman. Great programme! You’re doing such fantastic work. Remember to take care of you too. If you can, please keep going. Young people need you’
‘Legend keep doing what your doing they need you!’
‘This was such a sad watch but very powerful. Keep knocking on those doors, but look after yourself as well x’
‘Broke me watching this my son took his own life 2yrs ago aged 26 and it’s still so raw .. I’m here if anybody needs a shoulder and somebody to talk to xx Well done for highlighting this xx’
‘Keep going Roman… There’s a reason you’re doing this work. Everything will begin to make sense’
‘As someone who works in education, this programme hits hard. It is shocking but unfortunately not surprising. Massive respect to Roman Kemp, we need more people fighting for young people’s mental health’.
Roman’s best friend Joe, who had been a well-loved producer at Global radio for nine years, suddenly died in August 2020.
Much-loved: Roman’s best friend Joe, who had been a well-loved producer at Global radio for nine years, died by suicide in August 2020
