2019 is here and I have been lucky enough to have attained places at both Brighton Marathon 14th April and London Marathon 28th April.

It was 17 years on the 27th January 2002 since I found my mum after she had commit suicide. I was 13 years old and as a result struggled with my own mental health a lot as a result of this traumatic incident. This trauma led to an attempt to take my own life. I was very fortunate in that I didn't go through with it. My life has been through stages of pain, anger, sadness, happiness, fun and has enlightened me to how easily we can lose control of our mental well being.

I realise now that suicide is a permanent end to a temporary problem, I never want anyone else to feel that suicide is an option worth any consideration. I look back on my life 17 years on and realise what I would have never have experienced, creating long term friendships, falling in love, finding out I was to become a father, the day my daughter was born or even just being a Dad now.

I wish every day that my Mum could have been a part of all of these experiences. 

I didn't know what the trigger was that made her take her life. I was too young to see any signs that life was becoming too much for her. 

Until we can understand how to see signs that people are struggling earlier and prevent people from believing suicide is an answer at all, we'll remain at risk to what should be one of the most easily preventable causes of death out there.

The Mental Health Foundation is the UK’s charity for everyone’s mental health.With prevention at the heart of what they do, the Mental Health Foundation aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.