The one lesson I’ve learned from life
Presenter June Sarpong
JUNE SARPONG MBE, 40, is a British TV presenter, broadcaster and author. She is single and lives in London.
IT’S OK FOR MEN TO BE VULNERABLE, TOO
Two years ago my beloved elder brother Sam committed suicide — it was absolutely devastating.
He had no history of depression or mental illness. That morning his flatmate noted he was in an ‘odd’ mood, but thought nothing of it and went to work. Sam, 40, headed for a bridge and took his own life.
when a family member commits suicide, you don’t know where you get your strength from just to get through the day. As a Christian, it was faith that got me through.
we admire people who channel pain positively. But we also need to understand those who turn to destructive means — it’s all a coping mechanism. You have to find something outside yourself to get through it. For me, that’s prayer. Suicide isn’t an act of weakness. Someone can seem perfectly healthy yet their heart suddenly gives out. Equally, you can wake up one day and your mind gives in.
The bigger issue is how we create a framework for our men, which is why I love the work that Princes Harry and william, and cricketer Freddie Flintoff, are doing to encourage men to be more open. we need to allow men to be vulnerable.
Feminism is a wonderful thing but there needs to be a conversation around men as well. we never look at men as victims, but if you examine death rates, suicide is highest in men between 25 and 44. They don’t feel they can confide in those closest to them.
In my new book, I talk about how we need to empower everybody. As a society, we expect life to be great all the time — and it’s not.
Loss has made me incredibly grateful for the little things. Today, I am so thankful for happy moments because I know what it’s like to feel like an empty shell.
If you’re going through a good time, make the most of it. And if you’re going through a tough time, know that it will pass. Cultivating a spirit of gratitude is such a powerful tool for happiness.
DIVERSIFY: Six Degrees Of Integration by June Sarpong (£16.99, HQ, HarperC-ollins), diversify.org.