How could life get too much for a 12-year old boy that he would rather choose to swallow a whole bunch of pills than choose to carry on living?
In the normal scheme of things, shouldn't the biggest worries for a boy of this age centre around things like choosing who his friends should be, the right sport to play or what X-box game is the coolest? Rather than being so overcome by depression and hopelessness that he would choose to try and end his own life.
It is just not right that someone so young would even want to contemplate making such a - literally - life and death decision! As someone who has struggled dealing with my own black dog of depression throughout my adulthood, the thought of a 12-year-old boy trying to fight similar demons and cope is incomprehensible.
Unfortunately, I am now in the midst of witnessing just such a tragic situation. During the past six months, a boy who is very special to me and normally a funny, quirky, loving and highly intelligent kid has been struggling with depression that has metaphorically sucked his will to live away from him and led to many attempts at suicide.
So far the experience with this country's child mental health service - an oxymoron if I have ever seen one - has not been a great one.
It appears if you happen to be a caring family and/or have some means to access private help for your troubled pre-teen then you are on your own.
But enough is enough. My boy desperately needs help and I will no longer tolerate the abrogation of responsibility shown thus far by mental health authorities. How many cries of help does this kid need to make?
Going by the lack of response so far, will it take him arriving at their door in a pine box before they take his plight seriously!
Help is what this boy needs and I will keep hassling whoever it takes until he gets the help he needs.
Watch this space!
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