A FATHER whose teenage son took his own life is to speak in schools to try to help others.
Dennis Graham's son Matt, who killed himself three years ago, would have turned 21 last Saturday.
Mr Graham, 57, said: "We want to go into schools and speak to the younger generation about suicide and make sure they know there is always someone out there to talk to and share their problems with.
"We want them to understand that suicide isn't the only way out. We also want friends to be aware of what to look out for and to know what can be done to help.
"We only wish Matt had talked to someone that day – then maybe he'd be out celebrating his birthday in style instead."
Matt, a Beverley Grammar and Wyke College student, was the youngest of six children.
He died at his home in Beverley, in April 2010.
Matt was one of several young people to take their own lives in the Beverley area in the space of two months, although none of the deaths were connected.
In a separate tragedy, Jess Blake, 14, was found hanged in woods on the outskirts of Beverley last year.
Mr Graham said: "The answer isn't taking your life.
"All that does is pass on all the hurt, anger and upset among family and friends.
"It doesn't just end when you end your life.
"We need to make people aware that suicide is not the answer."
To mark what would have been Matt's 21st birthday, his father, a self-employed loft converter, took part in a skydive with his ex-wife Jan Graham on Sunday in Bridlington.
"If someone had suggested a parachute jump a few years ago I would probably have jumped without the parachute," he said. "I felt so low. If it weren't for my girls I wouldn't be here today."
The skydive was raising funds for Papyrus, which aims to prevent young suicides.
The charity promotes mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.
It particularly wants to promote and encourage the unique contribution that family and friends can make to preventing young suicide.
Mr Graham said: "I am still buzzing from the parachute jump. We set ourselves the target of about £1,000 and have already raised about £1,600. I'd like to thank everyone who sponsored us."
Mr Graham's daughters, Nicola, Alison, Fiona, Helen and Sophie, also organised a celebration at Hodgsons in Beverley.
"It was meant to be a surprise but the girls had to tell me as we were originally going to do the skydive on the Saturday but it got delayed because of the weather," he said.
"We let off a few balloons. It was well organised and a fabulous idea with family and friends. It was massively emotional."
Visit www.justgiving.com/matts-21st-birthday to sponsor the skydivers.
