THE family of a former University of York student who took his own life has launched a charitable foundation to support young people struggling with mental health problems.

Sabbatical officers from the university’s Students’ Union are planning to take part in a sponsored skydive next month to raise funds for the foundation and raise awareness of mental health on campus.

Charlie Watkins, from Suffolk, died last year shortly after appearing as a contestant on ITV’s dating show Take Me Out.

An inquest heard he had taken anti-depressants in the past and went on the programme in a bid to find ‘the one’ after saying he was disappointed he had been unlucky in love during his three years studying at the university.

After graduating, he worked at York Chocolate Story in King’s Square.

His twin brother Harry subsequently decided to set up the Charlie Watkins Foundation, with the aim of raising awareness of mental health problems and offering more support to those suffering.

The foundation is working with the University of Essex in creating Chat with Charlie, an online portal for struggling students, who will be able to log into a chat room to talk with a trained volunteer who can then determine what support they would benefit from. If the concept proves successful, the foundation will seek to expand it to other universities around the country, such as York.

Harry said there was a growing problem with a lack of counselling support, adding: “We need to try and make something of this rather than just let it go by. Let’s try and turn it around and make it good. If one person feels safe then it is a success.”

The York Students’ Union said that throughout this term, there would be fundraising on nights out, karaoke nights, and charity film screenings, all building up to the skydive.To sponsor them, go to www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/yusu/sabbskydive