Hello all, 

This is a extremely difficult and delicate story, to both read and narrate, nevertheless it is of vital importance that I convey this message to us as individuals. It is a huge passion of mine to bring this topic out into everyday discussion and bring awareness to those who may remain uncertain of these issues.

In January 2015 my girlfriend’s brother took his own life. This meant that I experienced first-hand the tragedy of suicide, and as I watched on I saw many hearts break before me. The sadness felt by those closest to me was overwhelming. I endeavoured to support the family as much as I could and with the utmost perseverance, but in such brokenhearted circumstances it was difficult.

Unless you, or someone you know, have suffered from a mental illness it’s hard to understand the exact importance of mental health and the stigma that is attached to it. As a society we dismiss the idea that our brains, the most complex organ in our bodies, can break down just like any other part of our body. Just because mental illnesses is not observable to the eye, like a broken bone, its doesn’t mean it does not exist. We tell people to 'man up' when some form of emotion is perceived as a weakness or to 'stop crying like a girl' as if crying and emotions are strictly female, but the negative connotations for all genders attached to these phrases can sometimes blow right over our heads. Some of us hide our emotions in this society and ignore the fact that if something isn’t physically hurting us then it is just a figure of our imagination. However, without bringing philosophy to the table, we exist inside our minds. Therefore, bringing out confidence to talk about these issues is of crucial importance, and I’ll tell you why...

Suicide rates are increasing worldwide, and it is now one of the leading causes of death among those aged 15-44, in both males and females. The World Health Organisation estimates that each year approximately 1 million people die from suicide, which works out to be one death every 40 seconds. They predict that by 2020, the rate of suicide will increase to 1 every 20 seconds. On top of that, 1 in 4 of us will experience at least one mental health problem at least once a year. This can be a lot closer to home than one might imagine; it could be your brother suffering from depression, your best friend has bipolar or the local grocery lady is suffering from post natal depression even your neighbour who may be trying to cope with an anxiety disorder. 

It’s time to start listening! There is a need for action and It’s essential to encourage each and every one of us to start talking about our feelings and hopefully leading the way for people suffering mental health issues. We need to rid of the stigma!

This is why I want to raise money for the charity mind, a mental health charity in England and Wales. They offer support in the form of helplines and chat rooms, and aim to educate people on mental health in the hope that one day we will live in a world where mental health is given the respect and consideration it deserves.

Thank you for your support

Ryan and the boys