There was a time when Katrina Tsaftaropoulos felt like giving up. Losing her son George to suicide was almost more than she could bear. But courage kicked in and the Allawah mother found the strength to help not only herself but other young Australians coping with mental health issues. Eva Tejszerski reports.
CLUTCHING a photograph that captures a tender embrace with her son, Katrina Tsaftaropoulos smiles as her eyes dampen.
"He was my middle boy," she said.
"Lots of friends and well-liked by the girls — everything was going his way."
But George, an architect and talented soccer player with chestnut eyes and olive skin, suffered depression in secret.
He was 27 when he took his life.
"It was in March two years ago, just before my birthday," Mrs Tsaftaropoulos said.
"I only knew what he was going through when I found 15 pages of notes left for me on his computer."
As reported in a Leader special feature on youth mental health on April 15 (inset), suicide is the main cause of death for young Australians.
Mrs Tsaftaropoulos said her son had a few ups and downs a decade before he died, but the cracks were subtle.
"From 17 there were some triggers, but I never attributed them to an emotional illness," she said.
"His high school girlfriend took her life, his best mate died, he got sick with swine flu, and he had had a destructive relationship.
"Things went downhill from there.
"I didn't know the indicators of depression but in hindsight, I can tick every box."
His death left a big dark hole that no one could see coming.
"Suicide leaves a huge emotional carnage on the family," Mrs Tsaftaropoulos said.
"I was drowning in a world of turmoil; it took a long time for my neighbours to talk to me, some friends ignored me.
"When my grandson was born soon after George died, I couldn't bond with the baby.
"I got suicidal, but reached a point where I thought something needed to be done."
She joined a support group, Compassionate Friends, for bereaved parents and got back on track.
Mrs Tsaftaropoulos also volunteers as a high school presenter, sharing her story with teenagers in St George, including at her son's former school, James Cook Boys High School, Kogarah.
"We hear about drink-driving and violence, yet the death toll from suicide is much greater," she said.
"Depression can hit anyone — you don't have to be mentally unstable or have a history.
"Maybe if I had the knowledge about it then I could have saved George."
*St George and Sutherland Shire schools interested in finding out more about presentations on depression can contact Mrs Tsaftaropoulos on email: k.tsaft@hotmail.com
Read more about the biggest cause of death among Australia's young people.
HELP AT HAND
If you feel like you need someone to talk to call:
Lifeline 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
Beyondblue or 1300 224 636
MensLine Australia 1300 789 978
Kids Helpline:
http://www.kidshelp.com.au 1800 551 800
SANE Australia Helpline 1800 18 SANE (7263) or sane.org
The Salvation Army National Bereaved by Suicide Line 1300
