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Friends of a young mother who tragically took her own life have urged others to always be kind as they come to terms with the massive loss.
Leah Pride, 37, was staying with relatives on the NSW Central Coast when she passed away on Tuesday following a lengthy mental health battle.
Jennifer, who has known Ms Pride for 13 years, told Daily Mail Australia she received the news her friend had passed away overnight by text.
‘She was up the coast for the last six weeks. She went to stay with her sister then with her mum up there,’ she said.
‘I was asleep at the time when they reached out’.
The two young mums became ‘very close’ while living in a refuge in Leichardt, in Sydney’s inner west, where they shared with two other families.
‘It was very homely. She was there with her son Kobe before they moved on to another place and eventually got housing,’ Jennifer said.
Leah Pride (left) was described as a ‘really good mum’ to her son, 14-year-old Kobe (right)
Ms Pride (right) met Jennifer (left) 13 years ago and the two have remained close ever since
She said her friend was ‘going through a lot’ last year.
‘We would always keep in contact and she would message when things weren’t so good but I couldn’t have known myself that she was as bad as she was,’ she said.
Jennifer said she hopes Ms Pride’s tragic death will also help raise awareness for suicide and mental health struggles.
‘People need to know how important it is to stay in touch. To look after each other and to monitor for any bad signs,’ she said.
‘A lot of people feel like they have nowhere to go.
Her friend Ashley said: ‘We want people to emphasise on suicide prevention and just for people to show kindness because you never know when it’s the last message or phone call.’
Ms Pride worked in a range of hospitality roles to afford the rent on a Balmain home she shared with Kobe.
Before she passed away, Ms Pride dreamed of buying a home on the Central Coast.
Ms Pride is pictured with her sister Jemma (right) with whom she was very close
Ms Pride will be missed by close friends and a loving family including niece Laylah (pictured)
Ms Pride is pictured (left) with her childhood friend Ashley who helped to launch the fundraiser
Jennifer hopes her friend will be remembered as a happy and positive person.
‘Even though she endured a lot of hardship growing up, she made something herself and was always a really good mum,’ she said.
‘She was just a really lovely person and always so bright and happy’.
Jennifer and another of Ms Pride’s long-time friends, Ashley, have since started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her funeral and 14-year-old son, Kobe.
The fundraiser has so far raised $1,585 towards its $9,000 target.
