Boy loses both parents to depression

Lachlan De Vries is only eight years old but his life has already been marred by mental illness.

In March 2014, Lachlan’s mother Richelle Turpin lost her battle with depression five years after Lachlan’s father also committed suicide.

Friends and family have rallied to support the Sydney boy and his would-be stepfather Jeremy De Vries.

Richelle and Jeremy were planning to marry in December 2014. The couple had already changed Lachlan’s surname ahead of the wedding.

According to Elise Weller a close friend of family, Lachlan and Jeremy were inseparable from the start.

"Lachlan adores Jeremy and vice versa. He calls Jeremy dad," Elise said.

With the support of the Turpin family, Jeremy is currently in the process of adopting the eight-year-old.

Elise agrees that Jeremy is right person to raise Lachlan.

"He’s such a beautiful person for him to take on such a commitment and really, he’s not his biological father."

Since the death of her friend Elise has campaigned to raise awareness about mental health. She worries that Richelle’s depression was misdiagnosed when she was younger.

"When we were about 16 there was an incident with some Panadol… there were a few red flags," Elise said.

"But when you’re growing up and going through those teenage years a lot of people think you’re just attention seeking."

As Richelle and Elise moved into adulthood little progress was made in mental health awareness.

"Growing up we weren't exposed to mental health," Elise revealed. "There’s such a taboo with it there’s such a stigma."

Elise wants Lachlan’s generation to have greater access to information and early intervention.

"I think it would be great if it was done in the education system."

According to Mindframe approximately one in five people will suffer some mental health issue with young women like Richelle the most likely to be effected.

Elise is also raising money to help Jeremy with Lachlan’s ongoing expenses and education. Donations can be made here.