Harrison
Didn't get to celebrate his 21st birthday
My son Harrison was 20 when he took his life, so he didn't get to celebrate his 21st birthday.
Harrison's life was full of good stuff, football, friends and family. Everybody loved him, sisters, his friends, teachers, people he met in the street. He was just friends with everybody, so charming, funny and happy-go-lucky. He loved partying and messing around, always surrounded by friends, and was well known for making his special bacon sandwiches for everybody. And of course he was my best spider catcher.
Just before he died, he'd returned to college with ambitions of becoming a paramedic, and was enjoying making new friends. it was really important to him to support new students who might be struggling, as he'd had his own struggles with mental health with a recent bipolar diagnosis.
I wish we talked about suicide more. We could have perhaps helped him more to develop coping strategies to help him get through his darkest hours. I really hope the campaign raises awareness to young people everywhere that there is help and support and other options to end misery without it ending in tragedy. Harrison had fantastic support from friends, family and healthcare professionals, but even this could not help save his life.
