X Factor’s Sam Bailey candidly opens up on autistic son’s suicidal thoughts: ‘He really struggled’

Things became so bad that Tommy, now aged 14, even became suicidal because he wasn’t getting the help he needed.

Sam told GB News: “I knew the transition from primary school to secondary school was going to be difficult for him. And I think as parents we were kind of in denial that there was anything untoward that was different or anything and we were told that he would really struggle and to get a diagnosis.

“I actually went private to get his diagnosis and by doing that it was a quicker process, but after that diagnosis was the hard part because you have to kind of prove that he can't be in a mainstream school. He would bang his head against the wall.

"He really, really struggled at school.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• ITV BGT fury as fans outraged after 'pointless' act sails through competition: 'Show's lost all credibility!'
  
• Harvey Weinstein, 72, hospitalised after being moved to NYC jail as lawyer warns over 'train wreck' health
• Giovanni Pernice's girlfriend makes feelings clear on 'bizarre' Amanda Abbington BBC Strictly row

“He didn't go for a year and a half. He really really struggled and didn't have an education.

"He just festered at home and put on weight. He was threatening to take his life. So it was a really, really tough time and I went to the doctors on my own and said to the doctors, I'm really concerned about my son. I said I'm really concerned about my son, because of how he's been.

"I was like, you know, he's saying some stuff and they said that we can't deal with this.

“There needs to be autism outreach and they turned me away. I've got a letter to say that the GP turned my son away because he was feeling low and told us to go to the National Autistic Society. I was absolutely baffled by it.”

Sam was speaking to GBNews in her role as an ambassador for Children’s Activities Week. During CAW What’s On 4 Kids will team up with national charity, Caudwell Children, to bring an exciting seven days of fun and fundraising to the children’s activities sector.”

All the money raised will go towards vital services including the charity’s innovative autism assessment.

The assessment is delivered from their award-winning purpose-built centre in Staffordshire.

*Thousands of children will take part in classes all over the UK. And, as well as having fun, they will be able to support the meaningful work of Caudwell Children, a charity changing the lives of children with autism and disabilities . For more information visit: https://childrensactivitiesweek.co.uk/activity-search/