A 12-year-old girl who suffers from depression and frequently considers committing suicide to escape her torment prompted a 3km run in Stevenage on Saturday to raise awareness of mental health problems in children.

It first came to light that the young girl, who the Comet has decided not to name, had serious mental health issues in March last year.

Her mum, who works in Stevenage, said: “Her school called me and said she was having suicidal thoughts. I was shocked because I knew nothing about it.”

The young girl was referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Her mum said: “She was caught trying to break into our house when she should have been at school, and she was going to hang herself.

“She has an eating disorder and uses my credit card to buy food and gorge, and she is being severely bullied at school.

“She is having regular counselling and has found it a big help. When she’s having an episode, which is what we call her breakdowns, she tells me. When she has suicidal thoughts, she talks to me.

“Up until two months ago it was happening once or twice a week, now it’s every other week.

“Sometimes she can’t go to school because it’s so bad, and I’m obviously very concerned.”

On Saturday, the girl’s mum held a 3km run starting from Active Fitness Club on North Road in Stevenage to raise awareness of children’s mental health problems, as well as to raise money for Young Minds.

Young Minds is a UK charity committed to improving the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.

About 15 people of all ages, including the woman’s suffering daughter, took part and have raised more than £250, with donations still coming in.

The 12-year-old’s mum said: “I want to make people aware that children can have mental health problems, and that it’s wrong to brush it off and put it down to their hormones. It’s an illness.

“Young Minds is not a well-known charity because a lot of people are unaware that children suffer with mental health problems.

“My daughter did the run with us and we were well-supported. It was a good experience.”

You can still make a donation to support the cause by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/activefitnessclubstevenage.