Prevent male suicide through conversation

Sunday 14th May I’ll be running the Leeds Marathon for all the fathers, brothers and sons affected by mental illness.

In my earliest experience of mental illness I couldn't have been more than 10 years old and it affected one of the most cherished people in my life at that time. It pushed this very special person so far from reality that they didn't recognise who I was in a room where only two of us sat. Panicked and scared, I called for help. The ambulance arrived quickly but it felt like forever. The paramedic saw the signs and took my loved one to the safety of the ambulance and he told a story in an attempt to break the grip the illness had on this persons mind...

He had served in Northern Ireland and in the pursuit to protect, had used his weapon - in an awfully cruel twist, a child was killed. After that day, the demons took grip of his mind too, I suspect for a time he lost himself. Finding strength and help, he swore from that day onwards he would serve to help people in a different way and became a paramedic.

The story and conversation that followed broke what seemed like an iron grip on my loved one's mind, just enough that they were able to come back too. Words and empathy stopped this person from falling too deep into the abyss of depression and someone, who I could have lost at that time, remained. It wasn't a fix, but gave back some time to take another step forward - one step and one day at a time.

I have lost special people to this illness as I'm sure some of those reading this have too, not all were fortunate enough to have had an angel visit at their time of need.

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 years old. Many men don't talk about their mental illness, perhaps not out of pride or embarassment but perhaps the fear of burdening loved ones with feelings they struggle to understand. The live in quiet desperation, hoping to stay ahead of the demons that follow them - we need more angels.

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of ANDYSMANCLUB Limited and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about ANDYSMANCLUB Limited: ANDYSMANCLUB is a male suicide prevention charity. We were established in 2016 after the tragic loss of Andrew Roberts to suicide aged 23. We facilitate non professional peer to peer support groups across the Uk and Scotland for any man to attend over 18. We provide a confidential non judgemental space for men to come together to chat about anything that they would like to get off of their chest. We have no waiting list, no referral or signing in process.