Chantelle Garside’s mother wants teens to take notice of her death

THE mother of Chantelle Garside wants teenagers to take notice of her 16-year-old’s tragic death.

Jane Hector told The Hunts Post that, if just one teenager with depression got help because of Chantelle, her daughter had not died in vain.

Mrs Hector was speaking following the inquest last Thursday into Chantelle’s death, the coroner recording that the teenager took her own life while experiencing acute adolescent difficulties.

Chantelle was found hanged at her bedroom at her home in Elm Close, Huntingdon, on April 3.

She had looked like any other teenager. She was hoping to start a childcare course in September and, when she was not at Hinchingbrooke School, she was learning how to play the piano and was looking to join in a world record attempt ... for knitting.

“She touched everyone she met. You could see that at her funeral as the church was filled with people,” Mrs Hector said. “When you’re in her situation, you feel like you are alone, but there are so many people who are willing to help and give up their time to talk through problems – no-one should suffer alone.

“She was suffering for a long time but she’s not suffering any more.

“If your child falls over when they are younger, you can pick them up and cuddle them. You can’t do that so much when they are older.”

Mrs Hector has pledged to raise awareness of teenage depression.

“The help is out there. If just one person’s life is saved because of this, Chantelle’s death won’t have been in vain.”

Chantelle’s older brother, Richard Shaw, has taken part in a 14-mile trek across the Yorkshire Dales for Bullying UK and raised nearly �1,000 to help children who have been bullied or are suffering from depression as a result of bullying.