It’s every parent’s nightmare to lose a child but Suzanne Middleton-Elliott is trying to turn her son’s sudden death into something positive.

Alex Wheeler was about to celebrate his 22nd birthday when he took his own life.

He had been secretly battling with depression.

Now Suzanne, of Ruins Barn Road, Sittingbourne, is working with his former schools to raise awareness of mental health, especially in young men.

Alex went to Borden Grammar before moving to Fulston Manor’s sixth form, where the talented singer enjoyed performing arts.

After leaving school, he went to South Thames College in south London to study music technology before moving to Kingston then Hampton, Surrey, and taking a job in insurance.

Suzanne, 49, said: “The last time we spoke was on October 9, when he came to a family meal and he seemed fine.

“After that we didn’t hear from him at all, he stopped answering phone calls and emails.

“I knew something was wrong but I never thought he would do what he did.”

Suzanne was on holiday when police tracked her down to tell her Alex had tried to kill himself and was in a critical condition.

“The doctors did what they could, they were brilliant, but were very honest and said he was unlikely to survive,” she recalled.

“We had to make the decision to let him go.”

He died on November 22.

Alex’s siblings Ashleigh, 26, Nathan, 18, and Noah, eight, were all heartbroken.

“They’re going to carry that for the rest of their lives now,” she said.

Suzanne, an insurance team leader, added: “It’s a horrible thing to have to go through.

“Nothing helps. It’s that thing when you think ‘Goddamn it, I won’t let you go in vain. This cannot be for nothing’.

“We donated his organs but even that doesn’t really help – it’s something to distract yourself from what is your reality, that he’s not here.

“You just wish he’d picked up the phone and had that conversation.”

A consultant told her young men struggle to talk about what they’re going through. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 25.

This motivated Suzanne to contact charities to see what she could do to help.

She now hopes working with schools to deliver mental health awareness training for teachers will help prevent other families going through similar situations.

“We didn’t know he was ill and neither did he, but now I know there’s things to look for,” she added.

“It’s a dreadful way to learn a lesson – there is so much help out there.”

An award in Alex’s name is to be created at Fulston Manor School.

His mother said the Alex Wheeler Prize for Performing Arts was ideal because he loved the subject.

“He was a good singer, played his guitar, but he lost confidence,” she said.

“We even played his music at the funeral.

“He was also a good actor and was in a few productions at Fulston.”

Sarah Palmer, events and publicity manager at Fulston, said: “Alex’s mum has recently discussed with us the very generous offer of sponsoring an award in memory of Alex.

“We will be presenting the Alex Wheeler Prize for Performing Arts during our presentation evening on September 14.

“Alex was a keen and talented actor and this is a perfect way of keeping his memory alive.”

James Walker, projects manager at Maidstone and Mid-Kent Mind, said Suzanne approached the mental health organisation soon after her son took his own life.

He said: “She really wanted to see what she could do to make people aware and to spot the early signs of mental health issues.

“We agreed to go into Fulston Manor School to speak to teachers and staff.”

Local councillors gave the group funding to access as many schools as possible, and at the moment it’s working with six across Swale – Borden Grammar, Fulston Manor, Highsted Grammar, Queen Elizabeth’s in Faversham, Sittingbourne Community College and Westlands.

Mr Walker added: “Teaching staff is an effective way of them learning how to start that conversation.

“Because of the stigma attached to mental health, people think if you talk about it, people will start thinking of doing it, but that’s not the case.

“Talking to someone is the best intervention you can do.”

• Call the Samaritans on 116 123