Over the last couple of years, my mental health has gradually declined. Piece by piece I lost myself, worrying about everyone and everything else around me while putting my own needs last. When I finally realised I wasn’t okay, I decided to act and have a health assessment, ultimately hearing the words “anxiety and depression”. For me, this was incredibly shocking as I’ve always considered myself to be strong, stoic and driven.

I was then medicated and began cognitive behavioural therapy. What followed was a separation from my long term partner, resulting in a complete change of personal, living and work circumstances. I couldn’t eat properly, sleep, function at work and on the darkest days, contemplated my very existence and whether I had the strength to keep fighting on. I'm not alone in this battle. My father has recently faced similar struggles, as well as countless others who fight in silence every day.

A mind blowing 1 in 5 of us will experience suicidal thoughts in their lives. Each year, there are 200,000 suicide attempts. In the UK, 18 people tragically take their own lives each day, making suicide the biggest killer in men under the age of 50.

SO, on a more positive note, despite a crippling fear of heights I’ve decided to skydive to raise funds for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), an incredible charity dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health.

I need your help. Please support this cause by sharing my story and donating. Together, we can make a difference and save lives. Thank you so much for reading my story and for supporting such an important cause! For those of you who are struggling right now, it’s nothing to be ashamed of - for support, please call CALM on 0800 58 58 58.