MUM'S HEARTACHE
Mum-of-two shares the happy family selfie she took just days before trying to take her own life
A MUM-OF-TWO has shared a happy family selfie she took just days before attempting to take her own life to raise awareness for mental health.
Caitlin Fladager, 23, from Vancouver, Canada, posted a photo of herself with her children Ariana and Jack on earlier this month.
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On the surface of things, this looks like any other sweet family photo - but Caitlin has since revealed the upsetting reality she was facing when she took this photo.
Sharing the heart-breaking backstory behind the selfie, Caitlin told her 280,000 followers: "This picture of me with my children was taken days before I tried to take my own life - I'm so glad I failed.
"Your kids would never be better off without you, momma."
The mental health advocate - who had her first baby with high school sweetheart Noah when she was 18 - then went on to explain how she has struggled with anxiety and depression since she was a child.
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She continued: "Last January is when the darkest corners of my mind were starting to win."
Describing how she was "morphing into a person she couldn't recognise", Caitlin added: "I was sleeping all day, letting the TV babysit my children and snapping at them way too easily. I wasn't the mom they had once known."
Caitlin revealed how her breaking point came when her five-year-old daughter walked into her bedroom one day and asked why she "always slept so much".
The mum-of-two wrote: "All I could hear in my head was a voice telling me I was a burden to my kids. I was a burden to everyone and life would simply be easier for them without me in it.
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"So I decided my easiest way out would be swallowing a mix of pills I was prescribed."
Fortunately, Caitlin's mother came into her room right before she did the unthinkable and reassured her daughter that they could get her the help she needed.
"We sat there hugging each other for a while that day," Caitlin said. "I was reminded that I needed my mother just like my kids would need me."
Urging followers to take a closer look at the selfie, the mum added: "You can see the demons I was fighting.
"You can see it under the layers of makeup. You can see it in my hollow eyes."
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Almost one year later on, the mum concluded: "I'm here. With my kids. Still fighting those voices in my head. Just not alone. I had to accept the help.
"It's been a long, ugly journey. But I'm here. I'm fighting."
Caitlin wrapped up the post by reiterating how children are never better off without their parents.
Unsurprisingly, Caitlin's heartbreaking post struck a chord with followers.
One replied: "Thanks for reminding others we're not alone."
Another wrote: "We are supposed to always put the children ahead of our needs, but if we don't meet our own needs especially when it comes to depression and anxiety, we suffer so much."
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or visit ’s website.
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