A devoted father and grandfather who had been trying to get support for ongoing mental health struggles was scheduled to meet with a psychologist just two days after his death, his devastated family has revealed.
Clifford “Cliff” Robinson, 51, had arranged an appointment with a psychologist for August 2, but died by suicide on July 31.
The sudden loss of the father-of-five has deeply shaken the Rockhampton community in central Queensland, where he and his wife of two decades, Laini, were known as silent partners in a local CrossFit gym.
Together, the couple also launched Hydr8tion N8tion, a health-focused initiative promoting the benefits of regular exercise and proper hydration.
Loved ones said Mr Robinson’s mental health began to deteriorate about a year earlier, after the gym they co-owned closed its doors and the couple was left facing serious financial strain.
He spent the next year in and out of the local hospital’s mental health unit while continuing to provide for his family as a FIFO worker in the mining industry.
His death still came as a shock to loved ones despite his lifelong battle with mental health.
‘I just wish we had a different outcome,’ Laini told the Daily Mail.
Clifford ‘Cliff’ Robinson, 51, was scheduled to see a psychologist on August 2 – just two days after his death.
Laini and Cliff had a party on July 30 to celebrate their son’s bronze medal at the CrossFit Adaptive Games World championships. Cliff took his own life the next day
‘Losing the gym was a big blow for Cliff as it was unexpected.
‘From there, he got progressively worse. He tried to get help.
‘I knew Cliff was in a bad place because he would talk to me about everything and was honest about his struggles.
‘But he has always been resilient, so he was the last person I thought would take their own life.’
The day before her husband died, she had returned from the US with their autistic son Cliffy, 24, where he had placed fourth in the CrossFit Adaptive Games World championships.
Mr Robinson picked them up from the airport and headed home to celebrate.
‘We had a big party with the family that night,’ she recalled.
‘The next afternoon, he was gone.’
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Cliff with his wife Laini and son at the airport the day before his death
His wife said the closure of the gym the couple co-owned was a major setback, with Mr Robinson’s mental health deteriorating over the following year.
Ms Robinson opened up about her husband’s lifelong mental health struggles at his funeral last month.
‘Life wasn’t always easy for Cliff and from a very young age, he experienced adversity and trauma no child should ever have to endure,’ she told mourners.
‘Throughout his life, there were experiences that shaped him deeply and battles that he carried that many people did not know and perhaps never will.
‘There was physical, emotional and mental pain, and battles that weren’t always visible to those around him.
‘He fought a long and incredibly hard fight, but through so much of it he maintained his sense of humour, his ability to laugh at life and his determination to keep moving forward.’
Ms Robinson wished her husband could have seen himself through the eyes of all the people present at the funeral.
‘He could have understood just how much he mattered and just how many people loved him,’ she told them.
Ms Robinson has called for a major overhaul to the ‘broken’ mental health system.
Despite battling mental health challenges for much of his life, loved ones said Mr Robinson continued working as a FIFO miner and providing for his family
Ms Robinson has called for a major overhaul to the ‘broken’ mental health system
‘Cliff would not want this to happen to anyone else,’ she told Daily Mail.
She also vowed that Hydr8tion N8tion will continue in his memory.
A fundraiser set up to ease the financial burden on the family has raised almost $6,000.
‘It truly is a lifesaver right now, helping us cover some immediate funeral expenses while we wait for Cliff’s superannuation to be released to assist with the financial commitments and debts left behind,’ Ms Robinson wrote on the page.
‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping make an incredibly difficult time just that little bit easier.’
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.