Yahoo News Heartbroken mum's pain over teenage son's death after mental health battle
A grieving mum has spoken out about the heartbreak of losing her young son aged just 16-years-old.
Keen boxer Cameron Laidlaw tragically died after a lengthy battle with mental health issues - and his Middlesbrough family have been left shattered by his passing. His heartbroken mum Stacey Baldam says "everything has changed now", and feels there is a huge hole in the lives of his family.
Although an inquest is yet to be held into the death of the adored teen, he is believed to have taken his own life.
Stacey said the whole family, including Cameron's dad, Gary Laidlaw, 42, and his siblings, Jamie-Lee, 18, Calvin, 11, Dion, 10, Keiren, eight, Bronco, 4, and one-year-old Antonio, are all struggling to come to terms with their loss. She said: "Everything has changed now. The other children have taken it really badly as well and it's so hard to grieve yourself when you are supporting them as well."
Cameron, a pupil at St Peter's Catholic College, in Normanby Road, South Bank, was 11 when he was diagnosed with autism and a learning disability, and Stacey said it took a toll on his mental health. She said: "His mental health got so bad. Watching him go through that was too much. Cameron used to say that he felt like no-one was listening to him. He felt as though his voice was not heard."
Cameron's loving and caring nature has now spurred on his family to set up The Cameron Laidlaw Foundation to give help and support to other young people suffering with their mental health. Of the foundation, Stacey said: "I am doing this because I feel every child's voice should be heard."
She said at the time of his death there was no indication that Cameron was going to take his own life and it is terrible being left with so many questions of why he did it.
Stacey, 37, said following Cameron's death, a number of other parents have spoken to her about how Cameron had helped their child who was struggling. And by setting up the foundation she feels like she is carrying on his work of supporting others and channeling her grief into something positive.
She said: "Changes need to be made now and not later, otherwise we are going to see more children take their own lives and it's not acceptable. There are no words to describe what we are going through as a family - living with the trauma and heartbreak every day is hard. I will do anything I can to support our younger generation because they matter and it's important their voices are heard."
The foundation already runs Cameron's Way, which is a two-hour event every Tuesday from 4.30pm to 6.30pm in Grangetown Generations Centre and Library. Cost is £1.50 per session, including food and drink, and is open to anyone, of all ages, who wants to go along and take part in activities around supporting mental health.
Organisers have a number of fundraising events planned, including a Halloween party and a 19-mile sponsored walk, to secure cash to help support the work it is doing with young people to improve their mental health. For more information visit the facebook page here or to sponsor the walkers visit the fundraising page here.
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