A mum from St Albans is hoping that her fundraising for a suicide prevention charity will help children struggling with similar problems to her son.
Emma Prigmore has been raising money for different charities since 2017 in an attempt to fight for the stigma surrounding mental health to be lifted after crippling anxiety made her son suicidal.
In March 2018, Noah Prigmore was sectioned and hospitalised for 10 weeks due to suicidal ideation.
His mum said: “Thankfully he is still with us, but some families are not so lucky and suicide rates in the UK are rising.
“Due to being autistic, he has always had a harder time than his two neurotypical siblings. His anxiety really started to surface in year 8, age 13, but became crippling for him a year later when he was 14.”
This year, Emma has been fundraising for The OLLIE Foundation, a charity that funds suicide prevention skills training for any individual or community that wants it.
Emma said: “Unfortunately, whilst on this journey, I have met people whose children have not survived. Suicide isn’t giving up, it is the end of a long hard battle. There isn’t enough awareness of suicide and The OLLIE Foundation do great work in this area.
“The OLLIE Foundation offers training to professionals who work with children and this training enables people to identify warning signals and provide a pathway to help combat suicidal thoughts.”
Noah wrote on his Instagram at the beginning of the year: “One year since I was sectioned and admitted to hospital. In that year, my perspective on the world changed, my fears changed, my relationships changed, my mood and appearance changed. I changed. The world changed.”
Emma spoke on how she gets asked a lot about how she deals with everything as a mother.
She said: “I feel that I don’t have a choice but to cope. It is heart-breaking at times and I can feel powerless but the desire to help him becomes my strength.”
A spokesperson for The OLLIE Foundation said: “We feel desperately sad that Emma and Noah have had so many challenges, but are delighted that with the right support, Noah is doing so much better.
“Emma and Noah are sharing their story for the benefit of others and to raise funds for charities that are important to them and families like them.
“Their kindness and generosity in doing both these things should not be underestimated and The OLLIE Foundation is honoured to be the recipient of their fundraiser this year.”
Noah wrote: “Now, I am ‘unrecognisable physically and personality wise’. I am Noah Prigmore but a very different Noah Prigmore.
“Forget your ego, we are all teenagers rushing around in total chaos trying to figure out who we are. Stay safe and healthy.”
To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/emma039s-raffle-for-the-ollie-foundation
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