Wayne Westner’s daughter speaks for the first time about father’s death: ‘If only he had reached out’

Chane Todd

• Golf champion Wayne Westner died by suicide in 2017. The 55-year-previous shot himself next an incident at the family’s home in Pennington, KwaZulu-Natal.
• In a letter to his family, Wayne wrote that adverse views and feelings eaten him. 
• Daughter Chane Todd, who is a Mrs South Africa 2021 semi-finalist, has spoken about his dying for the very first time, stating: “It is excruciating to assume that this sort of a effective man was combating this sort of deep demons.”

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Mrs South Africa 2021 semi-finalist Chane Todd, whose golf champion father died by suicide 4 several years ago, has spoken out for the very first time about the agonising ordeal in a bid to assistance break the stigma all-around psychological sickness. She urges those people having difficulties with worry, panic and despair to access out for assistance right away.

At the time one particular of the country’s most well known athletes, Wayne gained 14 expert tournaments, which includes two on the European Tour. He was rated as substantial as 40th in the globe through the 1990s. 

Mother, entrepreneur and social activist Chane, 31, has damaged her silence about her globe-famous father Wayne Westner’s dying. The 55-year-previous golf champion shot himself next an incident at the family’s home in Pennington, KwaZulu-Natal in 2017. 

“My father was a champion each on and off the golf class. It is excruciating to assume that this sort of a effective man was combating this sort of deep demons. This is how powerful psychological sickness is. It can influence any one. My dad’s passing broke our hearts, and I will not want other family members to go by way of the similar thing,” she says.

“Had he sought assistance, points could have been unique. When despair overcomes us, we could sense susceptible with no way out. We merely will have to search for expert assistance right away. Reaching out could not only help you save lives but could also be lifetime-modifying for the much better,” she says.

In a letter to his family, Wayne wrote that he was eaten by adverse views and feelings. “If only he had reached out. There is a stigma associated with despair and poor psychological overall health. I desperately want to assistance break the stigma and get persons conversing about this illness which affects all-around one particular in six South Africans.

“My dad’s family had a historical past of psychological sickness, but we had been unaware of the severity of his situation. He explained to us he was managing when in simple fact, he had slipped into a deep despair and was considering ending his lifetime. His psychological very well-currently being was no longer at the leading of his mind. We realised this when it was far too late,” she says. 

Chane, who will contend for the Mrs SA title afterwards this year, urges the community to talk about psychological very well-currently being and to search for assistance from groups this sort of as the SA Depression and Panic Group (SADAG) by contacting 0800 567 567 or (011) 234 4837 or inquiring a psychological overall health expert for assistance.

“Asking for assistance can help you save lives. I urge the community having difficulties with this sickness to access out now!” she says.