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The New Zealand Herald
The New Zealand Herald
World

Chester Bennington's wife shares video of singer having fun hours before his death

Warning: This article is about suicide and may be distressing for some readers.

The wife of late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington has shared footage of him laughing and having fun with his family just hours before his death.

Talinda Bennington posted the 40 second video on Twitter on Saturday saying depression does not have a particular face or a mood.

"This is what depression looked like to us just 36 hrs b4 his death. He loved us SO much & we loved him," she wrote alongside the video of the father-of-six.

Chester, who was 41 when he died of suicide on July 20, was filmed sitting beside his son as they experimented eating strange flavoured jelly beans.

Chester, who was 41 when he died on July 20, was filmed sitting beside his son as they experimented eating strange flavoured jelly beans.
Chester, who was 41 when he died on July 20, was filmed sitting beside his son as they experimented eating strange flavoured jelly beans.

His widow has gradually been growing an online community to support people with depression and people who have been impacted by suicide ever since Chester's death.

She regularly uses the hashtags "#f**kdepress" and "MakeChesterProud".

It comes just days after Chester's 15-year-old son Draven Bennington released three videos for National Suicide Prevention Week in the wake of his father's death.

He appears alone in one video, alongside his mother and the singer's first wife Samantha in the second video and for the final video in the series discusses suicide warning signs with Angelica Guajardo, a local marriage and family therapist.

"Hi, I'm Draven Bennington, and I'm here on National Suicide Prevention Week," says the teenager in the first video, while the music to his father's hit song Numb plays in the background.

"I want to make a commitment that I will talk to someone before I hurt myself when I'm feeling depressed, sad or going through a hard week, month or year."

Draven Bennington, pictured with his mother Samantha, has been speaking out in support of US National Suicide Prevention Week.
Draven Bennington, pictured with his mother Samantha, has been speaking out in support of US National Suicide Prevention Week.

He then states: "I want to challenge you to do the same - to help yourself, not hurt yourself."

When asked what warning signs he saw before his father's death, Draven says: "He was really good at hiding it. I saw him a week before and I would not be able to tell one thing that was different."

The boy then adds: "I thought everything was going great."

Draven went to say that he now believes his father planned the visit so that the two could spend time together before he took his life.

Where to get help:

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.

Or if you need to talk to someone else:

LIFELINE: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633
• NEED TO TALK? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7)
KIDSLINE: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
WHATSUP: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757

There are lots of places to get support. For others, click here.

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