The "shattered" sister of a man found hanged in Oxleas Woods has spoken out on World Mental Health Day about the importance of asking for help.

Garry Guest was just 32 when he took his own life after struggling with mental health issues on and off for ten years.

His sister Georgia is now urging people to ask for help no matter how difficult it may be.

She said Garry started feeling very down and was occasionally hearing voices, but he had recently turned a corner and had not suffered for a while.

Just hours before he died, Garry had sought help from Oxleas House, which is connected to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.

He was turned away because there were not enough bed spaces to accommodate him.

Oxleas declined to comment on what the protocol is on giving bed space to those in need.

Georgia told News Shopper: “Mental health is such a big issue these days for a lot of people, but sadly more so a lot of men suffering, and suffering in silence, and sadly getting taken by suicide, my brother Garry being one.

“It breaks the whole family to lose someone to this as there is always the what-ifs and the main question why why did they do it.”

Garry left behind a three-year-old daughter.

Georgia continued: “People need to understand it’s ok not to be ok and to speak up if they are feeling in this state of mind. No-one should suffer alone and in silence.

“Mental health is such a big issue and people need to be more aware and know that it can happen to anyone as normal as they are at any stage.

“But if this does happen to you or you are suffering just know it’s ok to speak up and don’t suffer in silence as no other person should go through the pain that our family have been battling with for the past two months.

“We are simply shattered.”

Earlier this month Georgia set up a Change.org petition to get better support to men’s mental health issues, which had so far garnered over 6,000 signatures.

If you would like to help Georgia you can sign the petition here.

Anyone affected is urged to call Samaritans on 116 123, a line which is free 24 hours a day.