It took surviving an 80mph car crash to realise that I was happy to be alive. Now all I want to do is help the world
Cyclist I’ll never let depression destroy me
Josh Quigley’s life changed minutes after it almost ended.
The 24-year- old, of Livingston, challenged himself to cycle 50,000 miles around the world after an agonising battle with depression led to him trying to commit suicide.
Lying in a hospital bed after his attempt failed, Josh made a promise to use his second chance at life to help others like him who felt they couldn’t carry on.
His incredible global adventure, which will take him through 80 countries and across six continents, is raising not only awareness but much-needed funds for mental health charities.
He has already reached Portugal after completing the first 7000 miles.
Josh’s self less determination has also earned him a Sunday Mail Young Scot Award nomination in the health category.
On May 2 6 , 2015, the former businessman, who is nicknamed the Tartan Explorer, drove his car at 80mph into a concrete barrier, a desperate move that should have ended his life but ended up changing it for the better.
He said: “As I lay in my hospital bed, I realised that, for the first time in months, I felt happy – happy because I was alive.
“I realised I wanted to dedicate my life to helping other people who are suffering from mental health problems.
“I knew I had to be really brave and tell people my story in order to try to remove some of the stigma and encourage other people to talk about their mental health so they can get the help and support they need.”
After suffering from mental health issues and depression for five years, Josh was told he would have to wait nine months for counselling on the NHS. Two people die every day in Scotland through suicide and it’s the biggest cause of death of men under 35.
Josh said: “When I eventually sought help, I was told I would have to wait nine months to see a counsellor.
“I was devastated as I had plucked up the courage to talk to someone and there was no one available.
“I started having suicidal thoughts at the weekends after I had been out drinking but it wasn’t long before I was having them during the week, too – when I was sober.
“For a while, I was too afraid of the pain of suicide to do it but soon the pain I was in mentally grew stronger than the fear and that’s when I got in the car.”
He added: “I thought I wanted to die but that was just an illusion and I think it is the same for everyone who turns to suicide as a way out.
“If you could ask any of them if
The pain I was in mentally grew stronger than the fear of suicide. Then I got in the car
they would rather die or feel happy again, they would of course choose to live.
“I got the chance to live on and am determined not to waste it.
“In September 2015, I had my epiphany about cycling around the world and raising awareness of mental health issues.”
Josh set off from Edinburgh on May 26, 2016 – the first anniversary of his suicide attempt.
He is now 11 countries into his journey and has raised more than £ 4000 for SMILE ( Suppor t , Motivate, Inspire, Lead, Empower) Counselling in Bathgate, West Lothian – an organisation who have helped him.
The former Edinburgh University student said: “The support I am getting from family, friends, mental health organisations and sponsors is incredible and helping to raise money for SMILE is a real bonus. They really helped me as it
was somewhere for me to go that wasn’t a pub.
“It’s especially hard for boys to talk about their feelings as girls tend to meet up and talk through their problems with their friends, whereas boys meet at the pub, have a drink and talk about football.
“After this challenge, I would love to set up my own project where people could meet and have fun without feeling pressurised into drinking. A guy’s crisis centre doesn’t always have to be the pub.”
Josh, who still has his bad days, says every mile of his adventure is taking him one step closer to happiness and he will know when he has reached his journey’s end.
He added: “Someone said I was like the Forrest Gump of cycling and that’s a good comparison.
“Tom Hanks’ character decided one day he was going to stop and just go home and that could be me.
“It will probably take me four or five years to cycle the globe but, if I get to a point when I feel the journey is over, I wil l come home and start the next stage of my life, which will involve physically helping people struggling with mental health issues.”
The young athlete is humbled and proud to have been nominated for a Young Scot Award.
He said: “I was gobsmacked when I found out. It’s incredible and will again raise awareness of mental health, which is my ultimate goal in life.
“It is the last taboo and it’s time that was changed.”