Friends and loved ones of Ross Scaife have donated £7,000 to a fundraiser to support mental health causes following his death.
Mr Scaife, who was known to friends as Rossco, died in March and was a wonderful husband to his wife Karen and father to his two children.
Many have described the musician as “the life of the party”. However, his family have also revealed that he deeply struggled with mental health.
After the recent Stereophonics gig in Aberdeen, Mr Scaife was reported missing. A day later, he was found dead near Kirkhill Forest after taking his own life.
Friends, family and loved-ones have since donated more than £7,200 in his name to men’s mental health and child bereavement charities.
Mental health can be masked
Posting online, his family has set up a website to pay tribute to their loved one.
On the site, they open up about Mr Scaife’s personal battle: “Like so many people Ross struggled with his mental health.
“He had ups and downs and, over the years, had experienced some stronger bouts of depression which he sought professional support and spoke to family and friends for but for the rest of the time he was just Rossco – a happy, fun, kind, talented and successful man.
“We truly believe he was all these things but also acknowledge that this sat alongside his mental ill health.
“For us one of the saddest and scariest things about mental health is the way it can be masked – do we, or even they, really know what’s going on inside their head?”
Since Mr Scaife passed away, the family say they have spent a lot of time looking into men’s mental health charities and support networks that are available.
With suicide remaining one of the leading killers for men under 45, the family say this needs to change.
The tribute adds: “We want to try and strengthen the availability of support for those suffering from ill mental health, who simply cannot recognise the help they need for themselves.”
The family have provided a link for anyone wishing to donate on the Just Giving page.
‘Entertainment at any party’
Friends and colleagues have also paid tribute by posting tributes on the dedicated website to Mr Scaife, who was described as an “all round nice lad” and “very approachable and supportive”.
A former colleague called Chris said: “I had the absolute privilege of having Ross as a colleague for a couple of years.
“He always had time for people, always had a story to tell and it was always done with a smile. I’m deeply saddened to hear of the news, my thoughts are with his lovely family.”
Another friend Heidi said: “Ross was an amazing man and we are honoured to have been able to call him a friend. His personality shone through and he was the entertainment at any party. He will be sadly missed.”