THE legacy of Brianna Ghey in ensuring children are equipped in mindfulness is essential in an ‘unforgiving world full of trolls, hate and vitriol’.

This was the message stemming from a parliamentary debate secured by Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols, held in the Hall of Westminster today, Wednesday.

The subject of the debate was mindfulness in schools and the Peace in Mind campaign set up by Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, and the Warrington Guardian.

More than £59,000 has been raised to ensure a teacher in each school in Warrington is trained in mindfulness to assist pupils with their mental health and wellbeing.

It comes following the shocking murder of 16-year-old Birchwood schoolgirl Brianna in Culcheth Linear Park in February last year.

Speaking during the debate, Ms Nichols said: “Members present today will no doubt be aware of the tragic case of the 16-year-old schoolgirl, Brianna Ghey, who was murdered in my constituency a year ago this coming Sunday.

“What they may be less aware of, and this is something I hope to remedy today, is the campaign that was set up in the wake of one of Warrington’s darkest days by her mother, Esther Ghey.

“The Peace in Mind campaign, working with the Warrington Guardian and with the support of our community, has fundraised over £50,000 since September to bring mindfulness into schools in Warrington.

“Today, our ask is that the Government commit to bringing that into all schools.

“That ask sits within the wider national context of a mental health crisis facing our young people, and an NHS ill-equipped to meet the demand.

“Mindfulness in schools is about introducing children to skills as early as possible to support their lifelong wellbeing.

“We are seeing a generation of children who lack empathy, lack resilience and for whom mental health problems have become part of everyday life.

“Anxiety, self-harm and suicidal ideation have become part of our teenagers’ vocabulary.

“It is an unforgiving world full of trolls, hate and vitriol. It is a world we cannot remove or escape, so we need to make sure our young people are equipped to deal with it.”

Ms Nichols said that this practice should start in primary school, as developing those skills very early on in a person’s life can set them up to have those skills through their life.

Brianna Ghey with her mother Esther

Brianna Ghey with her mother Esther

Also present at the debate was Warrington South MP Andy Carter, who said: “As the honourable member’s constituency neighbour, it is great to see Esther in the public gallery today when we are discussing this issue in Parliament.

“When Esther and I met Dr Jain at Appleton Medical Centre, we talked about the overall benefits of mindfulness for the general health of the population.

“Although we are talking about this in schools, there are real benefits beyond schools, training young people for these skills for the future will benefit many people over many years.

“We think of schools as places that will set our children up academically and prepare them for the jobs that they will face in the future.

“But it is becoming clearer and clearer that schools, along with input from parents, are great places to think about the digital world that young people will live in.

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“Mindfulness and the way that we challenge and think about how young people respond to the pressures that will sit on them should form part of the curriculum.”

Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “The word ‘crisis’ is bandied about too freely, but it feels like we have a crisis.

“We could say with some accuracy that people feel more free to talk about mental health and wellbeing these days, whereas perhaps they were more buttoned up a generation or two ago.

“That is a good thing, but it is also blindingly obvious that we are in an era where our society and culture breed shockingly bad mental health, for a variety of reasons.”

While in London, Esther met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Leader of the Opposition said: “Today I met Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna was murdered last year.

“I am utterly in awe of her strength and bravery in the face of such unimaginable grief, as she campaigns to make sure no parent has to go through what she did.

“Labour will work with campaigners and parents like Esther to ensure our children and young people have the mental health support they need.

“It is what Brianna and her family deserve.”

For more information about the Peace in Mind campaign, or to donate, visit gofundme.com/f/briannagheymemorial