NOT A SINGLE DAY GOES BY THAT I DON’T MISS HER
Ahead of five-year anniversary... mum opens up on lack of help for young people
ALMOST one year ago, Annette McKenzie and I sat down to talk about suicide. In particular, we spoke about a spate of tragic young deaths in the South Side. It was the four-year anniversary of the death of her daughter, Britney Mazzoncini, and the mum-of-three from Pollok opened up about the heartbreak and devastation that was tormenting her local community.
Ten months on from that conversation, the 38-year-old says she wishes she could tell me that things have improved.
She said: “I wish I could tell you something different today, but things have actually got worse.
“This year alone, we have lost so many. How many funerals have there been? And we are only five months in.”
Britney was just 16 when she took her own life. Prior to her death, the teenager had been dealing with a string of sickening online bullying attacks.
Since her death, Annette and Britney’s father, Raymond Mazzoncini, have campaigned tirelessly to open the conversation around suicide and mental health.
Despite the couple’s the problem has only efforts, become devastatingly familiar. No official figures are available, but a number of young people have taken their own lives in Glasgow’s South Side since the turn of the year.
“There are so many people who are trying to reach out for help but sadly it isn’t there,” said Annette.
“Compared to five years ago, if we were to all stand at the school gates with our kids now, you’d see how many we have lost – you’d see how many parents have had to go through that heartache of losing a child.”
Experts have suggested that the number of those who are dying by suicide is substantially higher in deprived areas, like Pollok.
In an open letter penned last year to the First Minister, Minister for Health and Health Secretary, Annette and Raymond described the problem as a virus more deadly than Scotland has ever known as they urged for extra support for the area.
Annette added: “People are reaching out to get help now but what can you do when people can’t access it? Or they have to wait months-onend to receive it? It’s almost like it is becoming too late.
“We spoke in Parliament about starting up emergency services dedicated for mental health but nothing happened with it.
“People were also promised money would be invested in the mental health crisis, but what is to show for it?
“Unfortunately, I don’t see it getting any better unless it is acted upon immediately,” she said. “With people unable to see their families and friends, it has become a pandemic in itself.”
As it approaches five years since Britney’s passing, Annette has recounted the last moments with her little girl as she urged youths to be honest about their emotions.
“It was such a normal night. There was nothing out of the ordinary at all. She was heading to bed and asked me if I wanted a cuppa, then she said, ‘good night mum, I love you’.
“We always said I love you to each other before bed. She was a lovely girl with a heart of gold and there’s not a day that will ever go by where I don’t miss her.
“If she were here now, and if she could see how rife this problem is, she would try to do something about it. A lot of kids that have gone are actually her pals from school.
“I would just advise for a young person who might be feeling low to speak to their parents and if they can’t do that, then write a note about how you are feeling and leave it where they can see
it.
“Parents need to take mental health seriously before it is too late. It really is hard for them to reach out nowadays about how they are feeling, sometimes they struggle to confide in their friends.
“And if you’re not struggling, just be kind – people need to realise that bruises heal but words don’t. Words stay with people years later.” The Scottish Government approached for comment. was