Marion Scrymgour pays tribute to grandson, vows to take up fight for better mental health support

After the tragic passing of her grandson on Friday night, Labor MP Marion Scrymgour has vowed to take action to support men’s mental health. Read her tribute here.

FEDERAL member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour will make it her mission to secure better mental health support for young men in remote Australia, after the tragic passing of her grandson.

It’s understood the 23-year-old man had been dealing with personal issues leading up to his sudden passing in the Tiwi Island community of Wurrumiyanga on Friday night.

Speaking to the NT News on Saturday afternoon, Ms Scrymgour paid tribute to her grandson describing him as a “good young man”.

And she vowed to turn her grief into action, saying her grandson was “an all too familiar story through Lingiari”.

“There is a lack of services which can help and assist young men like my grandson, to deal with issues,” Ms Scrymgour said.

Senator Marion Scrymgour speaking at a press conference in Darwin. Picture: Floss Adams.

“The only way out for some of these young people is to end their life, to take drastic measures.

“We need to stop people’s names just falling off the radar.”

Ms Scrymgour said she would discuss with the NT government ways to improve access to mental health services for remote Territorians, and would work in federal parliament for greater action.

“I’m going to call for both governments ... how do we prevent these young people either ending up in jail or ending their life?

“I know it’s just not remote communities - there’s a lot of young men in cities and towns. There aren’t a lot of appropriate services for men to reach out to.”

Police on Saturday told the NT News they were not treating the passing as suspicious, but said “investigations are ongoing”.

Tragic passing on Tiwi

TIWI community are in mourning after the tragic passing of young man on Friday night.

Tributes to the 23-year-old were posted to Facebook with family remembering him as a ‘loved’ brother and grandson.

Police released a statement confirming at 8:50pm on Friday night they received a report.

“Members attended the scene locating the man with injuries to his chest,” the statement read.

“The man was taken to the local clinic however, (passed) a short time later.”

Police said Major Crime Squad was now investigating.

The NT News has been told his passing was ‘tragic’ and the entire community were ‘saddened’ by the event.

Family at this time have asked to remain anonymous while the appropriate cultural ceremonies and sorry business can occur.

NT News has contacted police for further information. More to come.