Estelle Ametoglou tragically cut her own life short in 2011. By Melissa Meehan
SHE FELL between the cracks and now her pain has transferred to her family.
Estelle Ametoglou’s family wants to make sure no other family has to go through the things they, and other families who have lost people they love to suicide, have faced.
Speaking at the weekend’s Summit on Youth Suicide, held at the City of Casey council chambers, Estelle’s mum Susan said it was important that the issue was spoken about rather than swept under the carpet.
Her 17-year-old daughter died from suicide in December 2011 – just one day before her 18th birthday.
“It is an epidemic,” she said in front of an audience of more than 200 people.
“These kids have to be told this is happening, they have to hear about it, that these kids have mental illnesses and that help is out there if they are feeling the same way.
“Estelle knew of eight others who had died from suicide – it’s happening too often.”
As tears ran down her face Susan spoke about the many attempts that she and Estelle had made to seek help but said it all fell on deaf ears.
“She was 17 but not at school,” she said.
“She wasn’t a child, but wasn’t an adult either so she was placed on a waiting list.
“This needs to change; they (the health system) need to be better equipped to deal with the issues facing our youth.”
Susan said she spoke out about Estelle’s death because she didn’t want this to happen to anyone else.
“My daughter should not be a statistic,” she said,
The Berwick mother of two other daughters and a son said the summit was important to shine a light on and create awareness about teenage suicide.
“It helped me, I needed to tell my story to show others the pain it causes,” Ms Ametoglou said.
“It has affected my whole family, Estelle’s pain has transferred to the rest of us.”
She said it was important for teens with depression and suicidal tendencies to see the heartache caused to the family once they were gone.
“They never see this side of things,” she said.
“I think they romanticise it a little, they just don’t understand that they had mental issues and that help is out there.”
Berwick’s Craig Membrey, whose son 17-year-old Rowan ended his own life in March 2011, said he was pleased with the turn-out.
“It’s opening a big can of worms,” he said.
“It won’t bring my boy back but maybe it will turn a bad into a good.
“It’s been tough, but we want people to talk about it and break the taboo.”
Most who attended the meeting had a connection to youth suicide. Many members of the crowd knew someone who had died from suicide, while others had their own battles with mental health and bullying.
For more on the Summit on Youth Suicide organised by Holt MP Anthony Byrne, see pages 4 and 5.
Those in need of assistance should call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
