Kaiyah Kennedy, a 12-year-old rugby league player from Queensland's Gold Coast, died by suicide on October 2. His family shared their grief and highlighted the challenges of living with ADHD, hoping to raise awareness about mental health issues affecting young boys. They emphasized that ADHD is more complex than common stereotypes and can lead to emotional difficulties and impulse control problems for some children.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
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Story summary
The family of 12-year-old Kaiyah Kennedy, who died by suicide on October 2, expressed the devastating impact of losing their "beautiful boy" and shared his story to raise awareness about ADHD and children’s mental health. Kaiyah was a member of the Coomera Cutters Rugby League Club in Queensland, Australia, where he had a close-knit group of friends who also loved sports. He died just days after 13-year-old Treyvon Te Tahi Bradshaw took his life on September 26, leaving both families shattered and highlighting the urgency for greater understanding and support for children dealing with ADHD and mental health issues. Kaiyah’s family emphasized that despite struggles behind his outgoing personality, he was wild, free, mischievous, hilarious, and charismatic, hoping to honor him by spreading awareness rather than focusing solely on how he died.
Written for “Suicide And Adhd Awareness” on 2026-10-08,
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The family of 12-year-old Kaiyah Kennedy, who died by suicide on October 2, say their 'world has been shattered' by the loss of their 'beautiful boy'.
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Kaiyah was one of two young boys from a close-knit junior rugby league club on Queensland's Gold Coast who died by suicide within days of each other.
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He died just days after Treyvon Te Tahi Bradshaw, 13, who died on September 26.
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Both boys played for the Coomera Cutters Rugby League Club and shared a love of football and sport.
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Kaiyah's family have spoken about their devastating loss in the hope that sharing his story will help other children and families struggling with ADHD and mental health.
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sharing → speak → ADHD
In a statement to the Daily Mail, the family said 'there is now a space in our lives that can never be filled.
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We will carry the pain of losing him for the rest of our lives'.
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But the family said they did not want Kaiyah to be remembered only for the way he died.
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'We want people to know how he lived,' they said.
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Sports fan Kaiyah Kennedy, 12, died by suicide on October 2
Kaiyah's family said their 'world has been shattered' but are calling for greater understanding of ADHD and children's mental health
Behind his outgoing personality, however, his family said Kaiyah was struggling with challenges they wanted people to better understand.
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'Behind that beautiful, funny and outgoing boy, though, was a child whose mind could make life incredibly difficult for him,' they said.
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they → make → him
'ADHD is so much more complex than the stereotype of a hyperactive little boy who cannot sit still.
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For some children, it can mean enormous emotions that they don't yet have the ability to regulate.
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It can mean the highest highs and the lowest lows.
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It can mean acting before their brain has had the chance to process the consequences, struggling with impulse control, and experiencing feelings so intensely that they can become completely overwhelming.'
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they → mean → feelings
The family said there needed to be a greater understanding of ADHD and children's mental health, particularly among young boys.
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family → say → boys
'A child struggling with their mental health does not automatically come from a broken home, bad parents or a troubled upbringing,' they said.
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they → struggle → home
Sometimes a child can be surrounded by love, have parents fighting ferociously for them and still be fighting a battle inside their own mind that other people cannot see.'
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Kaiyah's family said 'ADHD is so much more complex than the stereotype of a hyperactive little boy who cannot sit still'
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Kayiah's family family said they did not want Kaiyah to be remembered only for the way he died
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect attention, behaviour, impulse control and emotional regulation.
The family said they had fought to get Kaiyah the help and support he needed.
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he → say → help
'We fought for Kaiyah.
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We advocated for him, we sought help for him and we tried with everything we had to understand what he needed and keep our beautiful boy safe,' they said.
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they → advocate → boy
'I would have done absolutely anything to save my son.'
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The family said they would carry the pain of losing their son for the rest of their lives, but did not want his death to define him.
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'But I refuse to let Kaiyah's life be reduced to his final moments,' they said.
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'If sharing his story makes another parent recognise that their child needs help, makes another person take ADHD and children's mental health more seriously, or ultimately helps save another young person's life, then I will continue speaking his name and telling his story.
'
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Kaiyah mattered.
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Kaiyah was loved beyond words.'
Kaiyah died just days after Treyvon Te Tahi Bradshaw, 13, who played on the same rugby league team and had also struggled with his mental health
'
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who → love → health
'We couldn't save our boy, but in his name, we will do everything we can to help save another.
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we → save → another
Coomera Cutters Rugby League Club, where both boys played, urged members of its community to 'look after one another' following the deaths.
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In a statement, the club said: 'To our Cutters family - please look after one another.
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If you’re struggling, you are never alone.
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Speak to someone you trust, reach out, and remember that you are loved, valued and you matter.
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If this story affected you, contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800
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