There is help if you are suffering: Just go and ask for it

Are you having a tough time with your mental health? There’s help, if you ask for it. That’s pretty much the whole message of this piece of writing, but The Courier expects more words and the deal is I tell a story and express an opinion, so here we go with that. It’s not the easiest thing I’ve ever done and I hope you take something positive from it.

I was inspired to write this when I read about radio host Iain Lee apparently saving a man’s life. The caller, identified as Chris, called into Lee’s radio show last Wednesday night to say he’d taken an overdose and was dying in a street in Plymouth. Chris said he was suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder but, despite his actions, he didn’t want to die.

Lee, who has spoken of his own mental health challenges, kept him talking as best he could.

Several times, Chris went quiet and listeners feared the worst. But, with producers passing information to the emergency services while the host did his part, police traced Chris in 27 minutes. That’s amazing and makes me happy.

But what now? Chris’s difficulties will remain and, despite his desire to continue living, we don’t know what will happen next.

It’s also very important to understand that his mental ill health will affect his choices for the rest of his life.

I had some issues, too. I’m not going to get dramatic, because others deal with far worse, but I was in a bad spot last year and, on two occasions, I was convinced things weren’t going to get better for me. Difficult events in my life took me there, but mental ill health held me in that place and put me at risk.

I’m doing great now because I asked for help. Two weeks ago I got my first tattoo, of a semi-colon, to remind me that my story isn’t over.

There’s no shame in talking about what happened to me.

I couldn’t have avoided it, any more than psoriasis or cataracts. I’m lucky.

I hope Chris has a better time. Iain Lee, too. And, if you’re suffering, I hope life improves for you. Just know there’s help out there. Please ask for it.

I couldn’t have avoided it, any more than psoriasis or cataracts