Herald Sun Leader East
A heartbroken Ringwood mother has pleaded for parents to look out for mental health warning signs after losing her 16-year-old son.
Mother of three Bree Lawson said she was “in the dark” when it came to a lot of her son Patryk’s mental health challenges.
Patryk died in February last year after a long battle with mental illness.
“A lot of the signs Patryk was struggling were also behaviours of the average teenage boy,” Ms Lawson said.
“He was taking longer showers, spending more time in his room, obsessing over his hair and often wore baggy hoodies.
“I had no idea what he was really going through.”
Patryk was suffering from anorexia and depression, but by the time he opened up to his mother he was already extremely ill.
“None of it was obvious, even though he did spend a lot of time in his room he was also quite social,” Ms Lawson said.
“As a parent you are always trying to support them without being too overbearing.
“I did often speak to Patryk and I reminded him that I loved him and he could talk to me about anything and if he wasn’t ready to talk that I would be there if and when he felt ready.”
Ms Lawson described her son as a “gentle giant” who loved Scouts, playing basketball, drawing and anime.
Australian Psychological Society president Dr Catriona Davis-McCabe said mood changes, expressions of hopelessness, increased social isolation, sleep or diet changes, self-harm or substance use were all signs that someone may be struggling with their mental health.
“If parents notice these changes, try to communicate your concerns calmly and openly and most importantly without judgement,” Dr Davis-McCabe said.
“If they’re not comfortable talking, reinforce that you love them, and you’re here to listen to them when they feel comfortable.
“Where possible, find a psychologist for your child to give them a safe and private environment to process their feelings.”
Dr Davis-McCabe also said contacting your child’s school could also be useful in providing additional support.
Statistics have revealed that of the 328,424 children that contacted the Kids Helpline last year, only two in five were able to reach a counsellor due to a shortage of counsellors able to answer calls.
When Patryk did open up to his mum, Ms Lawson found it extremely difficult to access mental health specialists due to long wait times and financial strains.
“I think this made it so much harder for Patryk to get the support he needed,” she said.
“There were long wait times for medical specialists, and Patryk’s anorexia was misdiagnosed as long Covid.
“All the symptoms are the same as anorexia but I believe that Patryk’s anorexia was overlooked because he was a boy.”
Dr Davis-McCabe said psychology services were more critical than ever in helping young people in crisis address their mental health issues because youth mental health rates have almost doubled in the past 10 years.
“Unfortunately, psychology services are not accessible or affordable for young people and too many parents and young people have to fend for themselves.
“Parents and families impacted by a young person’s mental health issues need greater access to affordable psychology services to help them support their loved one more effectively.”