HUNDREDS today lined the streets for the funeral of a 16-year-old boy who killed himself after struggling in lockdown. Corey Liversedge took his own life on October 24 after feeling cut off from pals and being deeply affected by Covid restrictions. The talented swimmer from Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, found being away from his friends difficult during […]
HUNDREDS today lined the streets for the funeral of a 16-year-old boy who killed himself after struggling in lockdown.
Corey Liversedge took his own life on October 24 after feeling cut off from pals and being deeply affected by Covid restrictions.
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The talented swimmer from Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, found being away from his friends difficult during lockdown.
His parents said he also struggled with not being able to be as active usual.
Today, hundreds watched on as a hearse bearing Corey’s coffin drove along a main road in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.
The funeral cortege was supported from the roadside, where friends, family and members of the public gathered in respect.
Aberdeenshire has been under strict lockdown rules for some time with a ban on mixing between households indoors unless you’re in a cafe or restaurant.
And Corey’s heartbroken parents said they are “100 per cent certain he’d still be alive if it wasn’t for lockdown”.
His mum Kerry, 49, and dad Adam, 50, spoke about their loss to raise awareness of Covid-related mental health issues.
Teacher Adam, of Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, said: “We would still have our son today had it not been for lockdown.”
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
Corey’s brave parents paid tribute to their “funny and kind” son — and said not being able to see pals during lockdown had left him struggling to cope.
Kerry said: “He spent a lot of his time not doing as much activity as he normally did, and I think the time away from his friends was one of the hardest bits.
“He’s not one for Facebook or WhatsApp or anything like that, so he didn’t have that, so that break in the connection with his mates was tough.”
Adam said: “He was an intelligent boy who was functioning well, and things were going okay prior to the lockdown. Everyone dealt with Covid-19 in different ways.
“I can say with 100 per cent certainty that we would still have our son today if it had not been for lockdown.”
Adam continued: “We just didn’t see it coming at all. Corey didn’t get the chance to live the life he should have had.
“He did do a lot with his life, he did amazing things, he’s been up mountains, he’s been skiing, he was such an accomplished swimmer. It’s the why, that’s the question. We will never know the why.”
Kerry and Adam, who are also parents to Corey’s brothers Torin and Glenn, hope speaking out about their personal tragedy will save other parents from suffering the same heartbreak.
They have also launched a fundraiser to raise cash for an environmental cause — an issue Corey cared about deeply — and Men Matter Scotland, a charity dedicated to helping men deal with their internal struggles.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans (free) on 116123 or 020 7734 2800.
