‘I turned my life around after suicide attempt and started my own business’
ONE DAY, MIKE DELIBERATELY CRASHED HIS BIKE ON THE M69. NOW HE HAS FOUND A PURPOSE
A MAN who tried to end his life is urging people who are bottling up unhappy feelings to reach out and get the help they need.
Mike Shore, 49, from Burbage, reached a point where he couldn’t cope with the pressures of work and an unhappy family life.
One day in 2012, he went out for a ride on his bike on the M69 and deliberately crashed it to try to put an end to his misery.
Paramedics were able to save him after he broke his leg and he was sectioned for eight weeks while he recovered from the crash.
He struggled over the next year to come to terms with the issues that were causing his depression and was voluntarily sectioned another three times.
Mike said: “I have met so many people who have had similar experiences.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel. You must confide in someone and talk about what’s going on. If you don’t open up it’s going to eat away at you.
“It’s hard for men especially, they can have a lot of pride. Talk to a stranger if you have to.
“Get all your emotions out and you can start to realise what things are getting you down.”
Eventually he gained the strength to realise what he needed to change in his life to improve his situation.
One boost to his self esteem was taking on upcycling as a hobby, refurbishing used furniture and other items to sell them on.
He now runs Live Upcycle Hinckley, repainting and remodelling anything from chairs and tables to artistic mannequin dolls.
His future plans include finding a unit where he can store the wares.
Mike said of his trade: “I buy stuff or get given things, anything headed for the tip”, Mike said.
“I paint them and upcycle them, or sometimes change them into different things.
“I look forward to what I’m going to do, it just gives me a buzz. I’m willing to try anything to be a bit different.”
Mike said he still has difficult days but that he is in a much better place than he was before.
He said: “It’s a nice happy ending. Everything was bad and it came good. I don’t know what I’m going to achieve over the next few years.”