A Leicestershire mum’s world was “turned upside down” after her teenage son attempted to take his own life just weeks before her birthday.

Agnieszka Stefaniak, from Loughborough, has opened up on the moment her son’s mental health crisis left her feeling “lots of anger” toward the world. It was in January 2024 when her 15-year-old son, Aryton, attempted to take his own life two weeks before Agnieszka’s 45th birthday. Aryton came home from hospital just three days before the big day, recovering from several major injuries including a broken hip and fractured spine. But it was such a major event that it affected not just Ayrton, but his mum too as her own mental health during the time when he was in hospital suffered.

Ms Stefaniak, who works as a psychotherapist, said the incident turned her world “upside down” and she struggled deeply.

She said: “I struggled to cope with what had happened; it honestly felt like our lives had come crashing down. I became really depressed and felt lots of anger towards the world because of what happened.