JUST one year ago Linda Rice was celebrating Mother’s Day with her four kids, looking forward to the special day like any other parent.

But when the 49-year-old lost her beloved son Tony Rice, 24, only three months later, she knew the only thing that mattered was the memories she shared with him.

Popular, loved and handsome, dad-of-one Tony appeared to have the world at his feet.

Tragically, he took his own life in July 2018, after having secretly battled mental health demons while hiding behind his smile.

Now his heartbroken mum Linda, from Cumbernauld, is determined to fight the stigma of suicide.

Dad Scott Rice, 50, has also been left devastated by the tragedy.

Brave Linda has opened a free-to-visit community support hub in the town, allowing those who may be struggling with their mental health to come along and talk.

The shattered mum believes ‘Tony’s Safe Place,’ – moving to Broadwood Stadium this week - will allow those who may be bottling up difficult emotions to speak out.

Linda said: “We want people to know we are there for them if they are struggling with suicidal thoughts or simply feeling depressed or anxious.

“We’ve been open for a while but we’re moving into the rugby hall at Broadwood Stadium on April 11, and will be open every Thursday evening, for anyone who needs to go and speak to someone about what they are going through.

“The goal is to make sure that nobody is alone and that no other family has to go through what we have.”

Restaurant manager Linda recalled the terrible moment she discovered her “beautiful and caring” son Tony had taken his own life last summer.

Tony, who doted on his one-year-old son Brooklyn, had given away his most prized possessions, including his wallet and mobile phone, to his 10-year-old niece before going missing.

A family friend, former soldier Eddie Scott, found Tony in local woodlands and desperately tried to revive him.

The stricken lad was found on July 3 and died in hospital five days later.

Linda said: “The day he died was the worst day of all of our lives.

“It was completely devastating, it’s the most horrible thing you could ever go through.

“Tony had tried to take his own life a year before he died but he didn’t want to talk about it.

“We didn’t know what to say to him after that happened, we were sort of tip-toeing around him and were scared to ask him about it.

“He was a beautiful, caring boy and everyone loved him. It’s still hard to talk about.”

Despite battling through her own grief following Tony’s untimely death, Linda was determined to stop other people from going through the same hell.

She decided to take part in two-day intensive suicide awareness training course the day after what would have been Tony’s 25th birthday.

The mum-of-four said: “I did the Assist course, believe it or not, just eight weeks after Tony had died.

“It was the day after his 25th birthday but it was something that I felt I had to do.

“It was really raw because I had to open up about how I’d been affected by suicide but it did help me to understand a lot of it as well.

“In hindsight I now have all the tools to know how to deal with the signs and how to help someone.”

Two of Tony’s best pals, Dylan Bonar and Calvin McGuire, both 25 from Cumbernauld, also took part in the awareness course after hearing about Linda’s tough decision.

The pair, who both work as bricklayers, now attend the community hub with Tony’s family every week and are prepared to listen to anyone who may be battling suicidal thoughts.

Dylan said: “Tony was my best pal, there’s five of us all together and we’re all as close as one another.

“He was this big happy character, smiling all the time, and he had a huge impact on everyone that knew him.

“After Tony died, Linda discussed going to do the Assist course because she knew from an early point that she wanted to help people.

“Then, when Linda went to do the course, Calvin and I asked Linda about doing it as well and she said she’d be more than happy for us to do it.

“It really opened our eyes. If I had known back then what I know now I think things may have been different.

“I’m always asking people if they are okay now and I try to speak to them if they seem down, whereas before you might not think anything of it.

“Coming to Tony’s safe place is just like coming to a help group – anyone is welcome.”

Linda, who is also mum to Denise Adamson, 31, and sons Paul Rice, 27, and Scott Rice, 29, has been astounded by the number of people who have already turned up to the weekly meetings.

She has also found some closure in knowing what her son may have gone through in the lead up to his death, and hopes to prevent similar tragedies in future.

Linda continued: “I was at a meeting last night and we’d done some group work and we were asked to say words in relation to suicide and someone said the word ‘selfish.’

“But I genuinely believe that’s not the case with anybody, nobody really wants to kill themselves but some people have already made peace in their own mind.

“Some people may appear to be happy because they know what they are going to do and they’ve made peace with it.

“We all sit round and talk for hours about our feelings and a few people have been back since starting in November and they’ve came told us they’ve even managed to come off medication through attending the group.

“People need to be talking about suicide now, it’s not a bad word and there shouldn’t still be stigma.”

Tony’s aunt Karen Carlisle, 42, added: “This is a safe place for anyone who is or has been in a dark place.

“If we can do anything to save just one person then it will have been worthwhile.”

If you have been affected by suicide, call Samaritans on 116 123.

Tony’s Safe place is open every Thursday inside Broadwood Stadium between 7pm and 9pm.