Raegan Piggott was just 15 years old when her mother took her own life.
“In 2014, my world came crashing down and I broke,” Raegan recounted. “My mum had taken her own life and I had no idea how to exist anymore. I didn’t think I was good enough to be loved, to live and felt that I wasn’t needed or wanted anymore.”
Racked with grief, depression and anxiety, the Darch teen fell into a pit of despair as she struggled with the loss and fallout of her own mental health.
For two years she was left to her own devices until she hit rock bottom in 2016. She ran away from home, her school grades dropped, she felt alone, she turned to self-harm.
“Emotionally and physically exhausted, I hit the bottom of the well of grief and ended up on my aunty’s doorstep not knowing where else to go,” she said.
“My aunty was scared and worried and told me about Youth Focus, hoping that by doing so I would not end up in the same memorial garden as my mum.
“I did as I was told, with no energy to fight. Running on autopilot, I rang Youth Focus with every intention of getting better. I was assigned a case worker. She was my saviour.”
Over the next two years with the support of Youth Focus and its free counselling sessions, Raegan turned her life around. Raegan now gives her time as a Youth Focus ambassador and member of the Youth Reference Group.
Now the 19-year-old is sharing her deeply personal story through a series of letters penned to anxiety and depression in an effort to help raise awareness about youth mental health and raise vital funds for Youth Focus services.
Money raised through the Youth Focus end of financial year appeal in May and June will help the charity continue its work to provide free, unlimited counselling sessions for young people and suicide prevention education programs in WA schools.
Suicide is the biggest killer of young Australians, with statistics showing 54 young people aged between 15 and 24 took their own lives in Western Australia last year.
For every suicide, another 20 people attempt to take their own lives.
Raegan said Youth Focus had helped her learn valuable life lessons.
“I went to Youth Focus to be made better, but instead I was shown tools to help myself,” she said.
“In Youth Focus, I found a safe and stable place to go and be myself, and I started to heal. It was a long, slow process, but without Youth Focus and their intense and committed support and care, I may not be where I am today.”
Youth Focus Chief Executive Officer Fiona Kalaf said significant investment was needed in youth mental health, with suicide the most preventable cause of death in young people.
“Unacceptably, suicide is the leading cause of death for children aged between five and 17 and young adults aged from 18 to 25,” Ms Kalaf said.
Ms Kalaf urged the WA community to support the Youth Focus appeal, citing that the organisation had provided care to more than 20,000 young people through free, unlimited counselling services and outreach programs in schools since 2000.
“Through our supporters, sponsors and partnerships, Youth Focus supports around 3000 young people every year,” she said.
“It is largely due to the generosity of individuals and companies that we are able to provide young people with critical counselling services as well as suicide prevention education in schools.
“Without the kindness of the community, we would not be able to continue to support and care for some of Perth’s most vulnerable young people.”
To donate, please visit https://youthfocus.com.au/donate/
If you or someone you know needs urgent support please contact the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Nicole Cox – 0419 941 443, [email protected]
Gemma Scheibling – 0434 055 877, [email protected]
