Mum’s heartbreak after losing two sons, a brother and a best friend to suicide

A Queensland woman is hoping her tragic story of losing two sons, a brother and a best friend to suicide will help others.

A Queensland woman, who lost two sons, a brother and a best friend to suicide, has spoken out about how 11 years of grief almost resulted in her taking her own life earlier this year.

Robyn Warnaar said her son Corey “struggled” with life and in 2011, aged 18, died of suicide.

Then in 2015, one of Corey’s younger brothers, Jayden, who had struggled with the loss of Corey, decided to take his own life aged 21.

Ms Warnaar also lost her “rock” and close friend in 2017.

But the mother of six, who was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in 2018, said her life “plummeted” after her brother, Michael, died of suicide aged 42 in February.

“Earlier this year, after losing my brother, I got to the point where I had actually written a note, put it in my pocket and left the house,” Ms Warnaar said.

“But when my current husband and I got together we both made a promise to each other that neither of us would take our own lives and that’s what stopped me.”

Robyn Warnaar said earlier this year she considered taking her own life after suffering through the "toughest" 11 years. Robyn Warnaar with son Cody Adam, 19, and his girlfriend Shianne Cloherty and her husband, Darryl Warnaar. Picture: Adam Head

Ms Warnaar said her daughter also confided in her that after Jayden’s death she too considered taking her own life, only to find out she was pregnant.

“My grandson is a miracle baby that saved his mother’s life,” she said.

Ms Warnaar said her husband, Darryl, who has been diagnosed with bipolar, suggested joining a local gym in June this year to give her something to “focus on”.

“(The gym) has given me something to do because in December last year I lost my licence due to my FND – I lost a lot of independence,” she said. 

Ms Warnaar said she uses the gym as a place to support her mental health and as a social outing amid daily “ups and downs”.

Asked how she has been able to cope with so much loss, Ms Warnaar said: “I’ve accepted that it was their choice”.

She now has tribute tattoos dedicated to both Corey and Jayden on each arm.

Ms Warnaar shares her last family photo with Corey and Jayden. Picture Adam Head

“If my story can help at least one person, that’s enough for me,” she said.

Ms Warnaar’s local gym, Snap Fitness Beaudesert, has partnered with mental health charity LIVIN this October to help ignite a movement and create a conversation about the importance of exercise for mental health.

LIVIN psychologist Luke Foster said one in five people will experience a mental illness each year and many more suffer in silence due to the stigma and lack of education around mental health.

“National Mental Health Month is a great reminder and reason for us to come together to break the stigma of mental health, start important and meaningful conversations and support each other,” he said.

Snap Fitness will be making their clubs free to new members between October 10 and 15 in support of mental health and to raise funds for LIVIN.