FOR student Lewis Baxter, life appeared fairly constant. Stellar GCSE results, a promising youth footballer and head boy at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School.

But by the start of his sixth-form studies he was in the grip of a depression which nearly overcame him. Here he talks to reporter Peter Magill about his experiences and how he now has hope for the future.

EVEN now Lewis Baxter struggles to quite put his finger on what drove him to the brink this time last year.

He had been head boy, played schoolboy football for Manchester United and Blackpool and notched up some impressive GCSE results.

But often there’s little rhyme or reason to when and where depression will strike, and by the time Lewis, from Langho, began his sixth-form studies he was feeling low.

For the normally outgoing teenager this saw him gradually withdraw from friends and family, turn down invites to social gatherings, feeling little motivation as life moved on around him.

“I was always such a happy person. But something just didn’t feel right. At first I put it down to not settling in at sixth-form,” he said.

“Then by February I really noticed something wasn’t right, I began being really off with friends and family.”

For Lewis there were physical manifestations of his condition, as he began to feel sick and stopped eating regularly.

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This was when he admits he first began having suicidal thoughts, as he struggled to cope.

Embarking on a familiar walk from Langho to Billington one day, he paused on a bridge and wondered whether he should end it all.

“That was the first time I thought that maybe this was the way to solve it,” he said.

Eventually he returned home and cried himself to sleep but he still didn’t share his concerns with anyone.

Another occasion saw him consider taking an overdose, amassing tablets before sitting on the edge of his bed, coming close to taking that step before pulling back.

“That was in late February and that was when I decided to kick myself and do something about it,” he said.

“I was always looking for the positives in other people and I needed to look for them in myself.”

His difficulties began to ease after he initially unburdened himself to mum Ruth, over the course of five or six hours.

“It was difficult thing, no lad wants to show they’re vulnerable. But I was open and transparent. I wanted to tell her the truth, tell her my thoughts and feelings, the trip to the bridge and the pills, everything,” added Lewis.

Shortly afterwards an approach was made to his sixth form, who he says were ‘wonderful’ and supportive, and a decision was taken to suspend his studies.

He was introduced to counsellors from Child Action North West, where he also undertook cognitive behavioural therapy in Clitheroe. An experience he says he benefitted from, which ‘enabled me to take control’. He was also placed on medication to help control his moods.

Before very long he began building bridges with family and close friends and made a vow to focus on two of his twin passions, journalism and politics.

Not only did Lewis sign up to assist Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, during the European Referendum campaign, but he also undertook a work experience placement at the Lancashire Telegraph.

But it was while attending the opening of Clitheroe-based community station Ribble FM, with Mr Evans, that fortune smiled on Lewis again.

Learning more about the fledgling broadcaster, run from a studio in Back York Street, behind Clitheroe Grand, he approached station manager Kath Lord-Green, hoping for a presenting slot.

Kath said: “He told us all about himself, and what he had been experiencing, he was just really up-front and honest. I told him that wouldn’t have any impact, one way or the other, on whether we took him on, but my one concern was he was still at school and doing his exams.”

With assistance from Kath and the team, Lewis proved to be a quick learner, and he now has a regularly Saturday show. He also enjoys being sent on news assignments for the station and is keen to to boost their social media presence.

Kath and colleagues had already been considering running a mental health campaign for young men, provisionally titled ‘Hey Dude, Are You Listening?’, which Lewis wants to be involved with.

The teenager has returned to his A level studies at Ermysted’s Grammar, near Skipton, where he recently hosted an assembly on depression.

“Afterwards I had people coming up to me to say they had been having problems as well. I just wanted to do something positive,” he said.