"Every day, around nine Australians end their lives; three-quarters of them are men. That is a shocking statistic. But nothing can prepare you for the shock when that statistic includes someone you love. One day in mid-2013, my dad became one of the nine. After doing a heroic job bringing up five kids and helping raise a growing collection of grandkids, he killed himself in the garage of his rented Kirrawee home. It broke me in ways I am still dealing with."
"Some people don't see their parents or siblings much after moving out of the family home, but it was never like that with my family. Even after starting our careers, getting married and having kids, we stayed super close. I'd drop into Mum and Dad's place, or Dad would come to mine, every few days. It was the same with my brothers. There were also the hectic Christmas and birthday bashes. For many years, we were a tight and loving family."
"If you had any work that needed doing, you could be sure Dad would pop by to help. He helped my wife, Lauren, and me renovate the units we bought, and he did the same for my brothers when they bought properties. He was always pitching in with the surf school I ran, too, patching up boards and constructing sheds. I always considered Dad to be one of my closest mates."
Every day around nine Australians end their lives, and three-quarters of those are men. In mid-2013 a father who had raised five children and helped care for grandchildren died by suicide in the garage of his rented Kirrawee home. The family remained unusually close after leaving the parental home, with frequent visits, shared celebrations and mutual practical support. The father regularly helped renovate properties, assisted with a surf school, patched boards and built sheds, and was regarded as calm, reassuring and like a mate. His death shattered the family and produced long-lasting emotional impacts.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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