I thought I had the perfect family when we welcomed our little girl, just a few weeks later my world came crashing down
HAVING welcomed their baby girl just seven weeks earlier, you would think that life would be pretty perfect for Chelsea Sterio.
But the young mum is instead tortured by the idea of even entering her own home after losing her husband in their marital bed.
Chelsea Sterio, 24, discovered her partner, Rhyddion Williams, 27, lifeless in their home, less than seven weeks after giving birth to their daughter, Florrie-Mae.
After his death Chelsea found the message, “Mentally, I’m unwell” written in marker pen on Rhyddion’s workbench in his shed.
The mum-of-two is now campaigning for greater support for men’s mental health, admitting she thought her husband could have been saved had he had it.
‘He could have been saved’
Chelsea, from Port Talbot, says: “That message broke my heart; he struggled to express his feelings out loud, and so he wrote them down.
“I feel strongly that he could have been saved if he’d had more help from mental health experts. He had so much to live for.
“He was a devoted dad and a really loving partner. He had been struggling with his mental health, and it was too much for him in the end.
“One minute we were celebrating the arrival of our baby, now we’re grieving his loss.
“I would like to raise awareness of the importance of speaking out and getting help for mental health issues.”
Chelsea and Rhyddion met through friends four years ago and quickly fell in love with Rhyddion proposing just three months later.
Chelsea says: “We were really happy, he was funny and kind; he put everyone before himself.”
Tough start
She fell pregnant and their first child, Freya-Harper, now three, was born eight weeks prematurely in July 2020 and was diagnosed with Beckwith Wiedemann syndrome, a congenital disorder which can cause low blood sugar, increased height or weight, and a larger tongue.
Chelsea says: “I knew Rhyddion had had some struggles with his mental health, but they didn’t trouble him at all in the early years.
“It was a big worry when our baby was diagnosed with BWS, but Rhyddion was really positive and supportive.
“He adored his daughter. He loved the outdoors, especially fishing and walking. He enjoyed taking Freya out to look for birds and he couldn’t wait to take her fishing when she was older.
“On Sunday afternoons, we’d camp out in the living room, watching kids’ films and eating as much chocolate as we could. We were just a normal young family.”
But Rhyddion’s mental health worsened last year, and he was also diagnosed with ADHD and the dad’s prescription was changed several times as he tried to find medication to suit him.
Baby joy
Chelsea then fell pregnant with their second child in early 2023.
She says: “I really hoped the pregnancy would pull him out of his depression, but he just seemed to sink further into himself.
“He kept running out of medication, and he was being prescribed painkillers for back pain.
“He needed someone to see him, face to face, and discuss how he could start to get better.”
Their daughter, Florrie-Mae, was born on September 15 this year.
Chelsea says: “It was such a happy time, but Rhyddion was struggling, it seemed to me that he was abusing his medication and he was distant and agitated.”
On November 1, the night before his death, the couple shared a Chinese takeaway and Rhyddion seemed in good spirits, though complained of back pain.
He had an early night and Chelsea heard him snoring when she got up to feed their daughter at 3.30am.
Heartbreaking loss
But when she woke again at 8:20am, she found Rhyddion had vomited in his sleep and died.
He was 27 years old and was believed to have overdosed on prescription medication.
Chelsea says: “The police and paramedics came, but I knew it was too late.
“After he died, I found he had written, “Mentally, I’m unwell” in permanent marker on his workbench.
“He was crying out for help. It is too late for him but not for others. I hope his death can be a reminder to everyone how important it is to talk about how you’re feeling.
“I can’t bear to go home, there are too many reminders. Frey keeps asking for her daddy and I don’t know what to tell her.
“We are all in shock. I have to focus now on our two girls, and I will raise them to make Rhyddion proud.”
There will be an investigation into Rhyddion’s death with an inquest planned for April 8, 2024.
A spokesman for Swansea Bay University Health Board said: “The health board would like to express its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Williams for their very sad loss.
“Although we have not received a formal complaint we are reviewing the circumstances in line with our usual procedure. We are also in contact with the coroner’s office.
“However, as the inquest into Mr Willilams’ death has now opened, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
Chelsea’s sister has set up a GoFundMe page to support the family.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
