MORE than 100 teenagers, including many from Kingscliff High School, met at Cabarita Skate Park this week to mourn the death of their friend, school mate and fellow skateboarder who took his own life.

Police yesterday confirmed the death on Wednesday of a 15-year-old boy from Pottsville described as “a legend” by his friends.

“We want to remember him as we knew him,” said one friend.

“He was always happy and always positive.

“He came to school every day with a smile on his face.”

His friends said they were shocked by his death and couldn’t see a reason for his suicide.

“I guess you just never know what’s going on in someone’s head, even when they are one of your closest friends,” said another friend.

“We decided to say goodbye to him at the park because that’s where we feel his presence most strongly.

“He would have wanted us to farewell him that way.”

One friend said the teen had passed snippets of poetry around his class in the past few weeks.

“When I look back, I realise there might have been something in those words,” she said.

“He spoke about existence being fragile.”

The teens gathered as the sun went down to say a final goodbye on Thursday.

Lifeline psychologist Lyndall Stafford said there was a lot of stigma attached to suicide.

“This is the biggest obstacle in preventing suicide,” she said.

“Don’t think you’ll lose friends if you reveal how you feel.

“Debunk the stigma.

“And if someone tells you they are thinking of suicide, take them seriously and listen to them.”

The Department of Education and Training extended its sympathy to family and friends.

“Counselling was immediately made available to students and staff, and will remain available as necessary,” a spokesman said.

“Students most closely associated with the deceased have received individual counselling.”

Research indicates the scope for the prevention of youth suicide is broad, should occur within a developmental context and should take into account not just individual characteristics of a young person, such as emotional well being, but also risk factors which stem from important social environments such as school, the family and the community.

If you think a young person is suicidal, you should inform the person’s parents, guardians or school counsellor and they should act immediately to ensure his or her safety.

HELP at hand

IF you need help or support, contact the following:

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 provides help and advice for teens.

The organisation’s website at www.kids

help.com.au/teens provides a Let’s Talk About Suicide sheet with advice on warning signs and how to set up a safety plan.

Lifeline runs a 24-hour phone counselling service on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue’s helpline is 1300 224 636.

Head Space is a website run specifically for young people run by the National Youth Mental Heath Foundation at http://www.headspace.org.au.