TEARFUL Christine Flack told tonight of her ongoing pain at TV host daughter Caroline’s death, saying: “Some mornings it’s hard to get up and carry on.”
Christine, 71, wept as she presented the mental health award in her daughter’s name to Charmaine George who set up the country’s first “grief cafe” following her son’s death.
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She vowed to start her own venue for anguished mums to meet to talk after hearing how Charmaine, 47, set out to help others just three months after Ewan, 18, died.
Charmaine struggled to find help in lockdown after her son was found at the foot of cliffs in Portreath, Cornwall, in May last year.
It is not known if he jumped or fell.
Christine, whose beloved “Carrie” — former Love Island and X Factor host — killed herself in February last year, honoured Charmaine at The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards.
The former journalist said: “I couldn’t have thought of anyone better than Charmaine. She really deserves it.
“What she did is so important. If you can talk to someone that understands it’s so different.”
Christine said she would also start a grief cafe in Norfolk, after admitting that the loss of her “beautiful” 40-year-old daughter still hurts.
She said: “It’s hard every day. Someone said to me, ‘Oh, do you sometimes think of things that bring her to mind?’
“And I said to them, ‘They’re not out of your mind, not ever. You feel funny if it slips your mind for a second. They’re there constantly’.”
In a poignant tribute to her daughter, Christine added: “She was a strong personality.
“She worked hard, and she did the job she wanted to do. She loved every single minute of it.
“In front of the camera, I think she came alive. But at home, she always had doubts.
“She’d only need one bad comment and it would hurt and then she would say, ‘Oh, I won’t take any notice.’ But she did, and you know she did.
“When she was in a good frame of mind, she would talk about it. But when she was in a bad frame of mind, you couldn’t talk to her. So that was a frightening thing.”
She went on: “Carrie is one of thousands of people who have taken their own life.
“What we can do, hopefully, is put the message over that there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
“We must keep talking about it. Keep it to the forefront of people’s thoughts. I’m pleased that I can give this award in Carrie’s name. I think she’d have been delighted.”
The Saturdays’ Frankie Bridge, 32, presented the Caroline Flack Mental Health Hero Award with Christine.
She urged those struggling with mental health to seek help.
REACH OUT
She said: “Reaching out is so important. Even more so in the last 18 months when people have been so isolated.”
The star-studded audience — among them Caroline’s twin Jody — rose to applaud Charmaine as she accepted the honour.
Charmaine — at The National Lottery-sponsored celebration with daughter Libby, 13 — recalled how she hugged Ewan and told him she “loved the bones of him” as he left home for the last time.
She found The Good Grief Trust online as she searched for support following his death.
With the help of its founder, Linda Magistris, she set up her grief cafe, which meets each fortnight in Treviskey, Cornwall.
Hundreds dealing with loss have found solace.
Charmaine said: “This all happened because my son died so there’ll always be a sadness for me.
“But you have to look at the positives in life, and now people aren’t going to be alone in their grief.
“If I can do that for them then that is a massive positive. People don’t relate fun or enjoyment with grief but to move on, you have to find a way to carry on living.”
Of the meet-ups, she said: “It doesn’t matter if you want to come along and laugh or if you want to cry . . . that’s how grief works.”
Linda, 57, of Bournemouth, who nominated Charmaine, said: “She’s offered people help and hope, a way to move forward with their lives.
“To do what she has done three months after her son’s death is incredible.”
- The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards is available to stream on All 4
Who Cares Wins awards
The Who Cares Wins awards honour those who have helped take care of the nation.
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YOU’RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
