Mental health issues are no longer as taboo as they used to be and that's a very good thing, as in the twenty-first century, life is getting more complex and harder. More and more people are opening up about suffering from anxiety and depression - and unfortunately that's leading to more suicides.
In 2014, The Samaritans said there were 6,581 suicides in the UK and the Republic of Ireland - the female suicide rate is the highest since 2011.
But luckily this story has a happy ending. And it's all down to a small boy who was only seven years old. As we all know, kids can be very perceptive. And we're very lucky for that - as one suicidal mother was saved by her son.
A woman called Lizzie had been depressed for years and after the birth of her second child, decided to end it all. From the sounds of it, she was suffering badly from post-natal depression. But she had forgotten to close the bedroom door - her seven-year-old came into room and handed her a homemade Get Well card he had made for her. He had realised that she was unwell and wanted to make her better.
That small gesture of love from her son was all she needed to push herself to get help and got her on the road to recovery.
This is what Lizzie wrote in an email to Karlo:
"I saw the door open and thought to myself - "shit, I forgot to lock it"... I knew that my husband was going to be here within 10 minutes and would take care of my son and my newborn.
I just couldn't bare the pressure of being a horrible mother anymore. I suffered from severe depression for about two years before I conceived my baby girl, but right after it my depression came back with wicked force.
I have the most loving and understanding husband in the world, but for those two years I felt that I was failing him. I felt totally worthless and an absolute burden to him. I knew that he wanted to help but he couldn't I was at the state of no return. I was absolutely crippled from my depression.
After the birth I got an obsessive idea that I'm going to hurt my baby. I never intended to do it. And it got really scary. I was sure that one day I'm going to lose control and actually do something to my baby girl.
Now I know what it was, I was having a severe panic attack, extremely horrible one and it was caused by my bad thoughts. I was gasping for air, sweat were coming out from me like water from a hose and I was crying uncontrollably and only one thought in my head "I'm going to hurt her!"
I was okay with having to suffer myself, but hurting my baby? I'd rather die than do that. And that seemed to be the answer. I took my husband's handgun and went to the bathroom.
I felt dizzy and was shaking uncontrollably, but I was ready to end it then and there. I placed the handgun in my mouth and was ready to pull the trigger just as my 7 year old son opened the door. He said "mommy, I made you a Get Well card!"
That exact moment when a realization came over me "My kids need me, I have to fight this!"
Soon after that my husband arrived, by that time I've already had put the gun back where it was. But later that evening I told him what happened. And I've gotten help since then.
But I will never forget that day, my kid literally saved my life.
Thank you Karlo for helping me to pull everything together after that event. God bless you. "
I hope Lizzie gets well soon.
Words Laura Hamilton
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'U OK M8?' is an initiative from TheLADbible in partnership with a range of mental health charities which will feature a series of films and stories to raise awareness of mental health.
Explore more here and don't suffer in silence. Reach out. It's the brave thing to do.
MIND: 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans: 116 123.
CALM: Outside London 0808 802 5858, inside London 0800 58 58 58.
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