Ballarat father's push to raise depression awareness

By Fiona Henderson
Updated November 2 2012 - 6:28pm, first published December 12 2011 - 9:03am
Making a difference: Brad Laurent says he wants to fight for depression awareness after his son's suicide. Picture: Lachlan Bence
Making a difference: Brad Laurent says he wants to fight for depression awareness after his son's suicide. Picture: Lachlan Bence

BRAD Laurent is determined his son Stewart’s suicide will not be in vain.Stewart, who was 20 years and 6 days old, took his own life in Townsville just last week, despite having got his life back on track since moving to Queensland earlier this year.“He was assistant manager at a big restaurant and had just taken up body building,” Brad said.“But sometimes depression can be bigger than dreams.”Brad said, as a parent, he could beat himself up and ask if he could have done more or less to help.“If you had told me three years ago we were going to lose Stewart it would have been no surprise.“But he’d built everything up and was on top his game and depression took it off him.“There’s no use looking for someone to blame or for reasons. We know the reason, he had depression.“Our energy now needs to go towards people who have depression and let them know there is help out there.”Brad, who was lucky to survive the January Townsville floods that claimed the life of his best friend John Graham, said he was overwhelmed by the support he had received since Stewart’s death.“I’ve been so lucky to have people around me.”But he also realised not everyone has the extra help he has had, especially in the lead-up to Christmas.To help people who are grieving the loss of a loved one, or who just need extra support at this time of year, Brad has organised an afternoon at the Victoria Park number four oval this Sunday from 1pm which he hoped to make an annual event.“It’s for people who have lost loved ones, whether it be car accidents, cancer or suicide because the worst time of the year is Christmas.”Brad said he now just wanted to make the world a better place – and fight for depression awareness – so Stewart’s death wouldn’t be for nothing.“We’re not going to save the world but even if we can save just one person.“I’ve been involved in sport in Ballarat for a long time and I’ve been to the funerals of kids before. Then one day, it’s yours. So I’m going to work as hard as I can to make sure people know the help is out there.”

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