Family of Tristan Powell urge young people to seek help for depression

Tristan Powell was 17 when he took his own life last month after struggling with depression, and his parents, Kevin and Pia-Mari, are determined to raise awareness of the illness while remembering their son at an event in York this weekend.

His parents said Tristan had suffered with low-level depression for some time, and while he had applied for a place at music college since leaving All Saints High School at 16, he "felt there was no future for him".

Mrs Powell said: "He was always the life and soul of the party, but over the summer it really struck him hard.

"He had been out of school for a year but I think it was just a lot of different things coming together at the same time and depression got deeper and he felt everyone else was moving on and he was staying where he was."

Tristan spoke to his parents at length over the summer about how he was feeling, but said he could not see a way forward. One recommendation to combat depression is to do something that makes you feel good, but Mrs Powell said Tristan's joy in creativity had suffered and he did not want his friends to see him when he felt ill.

She said: "Tristan really enjoyed making other people feel better. That was when he was in his element really. During the difficult few months, that was the only way he could make himself feel better."

Mrs Powell said Tristan knew that help was available, and spoke to his family often about his feelings, and had even started seeing a counsellor earlier this summer.

She said: "Towards the end he said he wished he had asked for help sooner.

"He said he couldn't cope with the pain any longer. He wanted us to have a good life and said he wanted to make sure all his friends did and if they asked for help sooner, it will help. He said that several times towards the end. He thought about his friends and family right to the end. He always said during the last two months - he loved everyone, his family and all his friends, and he knew we loved him, but he couldn't love himself and that was the big problem. That's when he always said he wished he had asked for help sooner. So that's the message we want to put out there, there's nothing wrong with asking for help."

Tristan's family, who live in Middlethorpe Grove, are raising money for the National Foundation for Youth Music in his memory, as he was a keen rapper, but had deleted many of his lyrics and performances in the final months of his life.

They will host a celebration of Tristan's life with a picnic by Millennium Bridge on Sunday from 2pm, with anyone who knew him welcome to come and share their memories of him.

Research has shown that suicide is the biggest killer of men between 20 and 49, with 76 per cent of the 5,981 suicides in 2012 being male.

This week saw World Suicide Awareness day, with people around the world urged to light a candle in their windows to help raise awareness of the issue.

Ged Flynn, chief executive of PAPYRUS - the national charity for the prevention of young suicide - said it is not uncommon for young people to feel isolated in their thoughts about suicide, but alternatives should be considered.

He said: "Often at PAPYRUS we know only too well how alone it can feel, even when surrounded by people who do care. We can all feel disconnected.

"It's never too late to speak to us - and it's never too early either. If you're struggling, make contact: 0800 068 41 41. if you know a young person who you think may be having thoughts of suicide, call us for advice and help. it may well help save a young life."

Mrs Powell said: "He thought he had to be strong all the time and didn't like not to be the life and soul of the party. Please, please, please remember it's ok to ask for help, ok not to be on top form and ok to need someone to listen. Every human being has the right to feel rotten from time to time and still be loved."

*Anyone with concerns about depression can phone PAPYRUS' HOPELineUK on 0800 0684141, or go to papyrus-uk.org