'Our son had world at his feet - we didn't know what was happening behind smile'

A dad has told how his 21-year-old son who plunged to his death from a city centre car park had the "world at his feet" but people didn't know what was going on "behind the smile".

Chris McLean's son Josh Perry died after falling from the building on March 14 this year, resulting in a huge outpouring of grief from family and friends - who had no idea the "talented" young man was suffering in silence. Chris now says: "I wish he knew how much he was loved." Now Chris and pal Craig Morris have pledged to make a difference in the fight for mental health support as they take on a massive charity hike from Scarborough to Liverpool.

Chris, from Bootle, said: "Josh had a great upbringing. He went to a private school, St Mary's in Crosby, he got a rugby scholarship to play for them. So he was a very talented young boy with the world at his feet.

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"He had a job at Barclays where he was very highly thought of. You just don't realise what's happening behind people's eyes. Unfortunately, people don't talk about these problems.

"I've been there myself and not spoke about it openly. It's the biggest killer of men under 50 and it's a sad tale. People are told to 'man up', but it shouldn't be 'man up', it should be 'speak up', because they aren't speaking. They might put a smile on their face, but it's what's happening behind the smile that people don't understand.

"Josh had 400 or 500 people at his funeral. It was absolutely heaving. I just wish he knew how much he was loved. He hid his feelings away. I just wish he had spoken to me, his mum or his sister. Unfortunately that didn't happen. If his story can save just one person, it's worth it. If mine and Craig's walk can save one person, it's going to be worth all the blood sweat and tears we're going to go through."

Chris and Craig will embark on their 140-mile journey from Scarborough sea front on August 25, with the aim of arriving back in Liverpool on August 29, reported the Liverpool Echo.

Craig, from Orrell Park, is walking in memory of his close friend Colin Halliday, who died after falling from the M62 in June. He said: "I had known Colin since school. We always went out together just like mates do; we went out drinking together. One day I think he just had enough. No one knows why.

"Nobody can know the answer. I know people always say it, but he was the last person you'd think would do that. It came as a massive shock. I couldn't get over it for weeks. I couldn't bring myself to go to work for about three or four weeks."

The two men hope to raise at least £10,000 for Sean's Place, a charity providing practical mental health support to men in Sefton experiencing poor mental health and isolation. Thefundraiser has brought in more than £3,300 so far.

Chris, 44, said: "I want to help raise money to pay for their services, but also get it in the public eye and let people know about it. I lived in Bootle all my life and I didn't really know it was there. Me and Craig actually went to St George's school (now King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes) behind Sean's Place, and Josh was buried in Bootle cemetery just two minutes away, and yet I had no idea it was there. Not many people do.

"I think it should be more out there. I think mental health should be taught about in schools. Sean's Place do a youth intervention service now, which means teenagers can go and use their services. If you don't feel like talking to your partner or your family, you can just go in there. You don't have to speak. You can just listen, and the next week you might have the courage to open your mouth and speak about what you're going through.

"Whether it's money related or you're having trouble with your partner, you don't have to tell your whole life story. It's just a problem shared is a problem halved, and I just wish Josh and Colin had realised that."

Craig, 44, said: "Sean's Place supported Chris after he lost Josh, so it's like a way of giving back. They're amazing. I went there and walking around, you don't feel like you're there because you're struggling. You feel like you could just walk in anyway. It's like walking into a pub. They go fishing, they take people out, they do everything they can to help people.

"Suicide just seems to be getting worse. I'm 44 and this year I think I know more people who have killed themselves than have died natural deaths.

"The problems now that people think of and are scared of were never a thing when I was a kid. Prices are going up, there's the cost of living. There's a lot of people struggling.

"And if you can't pay your bills you get someone knocking on your door to take your stuff. There's jobs built on other peoples misery. I'm just hoping by doing this, we can change something."

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org , visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website