Listen: you are someone for someone; a mother’s message after losing her son

This week’s episode may be difficult for some people to listen to, so we’re issuing a warning: it contains discussions of death by suicide.

And if you find this too difficult to listen to, don’t do it. And if you or someone you know is having difficulty or needs to talk to someone, you can call Lifeline anytime on 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org .au for 24-hour crisis assistance.

For everyone else, you may need to take a few deep breaths.

If you are a Batemans Bay resident, you may have noticed that the old water tanks near the Hanging Rock Sports Complex, close to the rugby pitch, which were filthy and covered in graffiti, are now freshly painted with murals in bright, bold colors, one of which bears the words “You’re Someone’s Someone.”

For Batemans Bay residents Deanne and Pat Griffin, that person was their son Sean, who took his own life in 2019. He was just 17 years old. The youngest of three children with a passion for sports, particularly cricket.

Listen to Deanne’s story on the latest episode of iHeart Far South Coast below.

Deanne was the main facilitator of these beautiful murals at Hanging Rock, and as you can imagine, it’s not an easy subject for her to talk about, but she speaks openly and frankly about the terrible heartbreak her family has been through to raise awareness and try to spread the message that we as a community can do better, and that there is help for those who seek it.

“We came home and our parents brought our daughters to us, which was extremely difficult to see them because now we are a broken family, and a piece of us is missing, and we will never be able to put this puzzle back together in place.

Like many of us, we grew up in the era of “get tough”, a saying Deanne says we need to move away from as a society to allow people to be honest and ask for help.

I don’t cry much, nor do I like to admit to crying (by publishing that fact), but I did cry during this interview and I recommend keeping tissues nearby if you want to tune in.

This episode isn’t meant to be light, easy listening, but it tells an important story of loss with an important message: help is available to those who seek it.

We’ll do a follow-up episode next week – which will focus on some of our local services on the Far South Coast, such as the recently opened Bega Safe Haven and Standby Support After Suicide.

Images: Deanne Griffin