Mental Health - We Need to Talk
For me, yesterday's events that unfolded in the late afternoon brought into stark focus a couple of things that need to be aired. Firstly the culture that would have someone take their own life rather than be removed from the things they love doing or to let people down being a motivator to end it all needs to be examined and challenged. Secondly, and reassuringly the caring network that sprung into action to find the individual concerned was heartwarming and spoke of the good in our extended family.
These two seemingly diametrically opposed realities need to be resolved or at least talked about. I for one have been and continue to be in the ‘planning’ stages of such a way out - I firmly believe I won’t act on it but the worry is one day I may just step over that line. I know that if I do chaos and hurt beyond my imagining will ensue. One of the things that prevents me from acting on these feelings is the fact that now I have aired my hurt and fear to members of my family and my extended family in the Services is that the support I have received is universal and without judgement.
Please keep a look out for your mates and family members who may be struggling and talk to them, ask the question but with compassion and remember even those who seem to have it all harbour the same doubts and fears we all have.
Finally I think we need to talk about the culture that drives people to suicide rather than to ‘let people down’; challenge it, to be compassionate does not mean you are weak and above all else be kind and compassionate to yourself - you wouldn’t treat a mate like that, would you?