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A football coach has shared his mental health journey to help others speak out about their own battles.
David Ampleford from West Mains had a breakdown in 2015 and had a relapse in 2016 which also led to him being unable to work for several years.
He has had a page on Facebook since then, “Mental Illness – My Story”, but over the last 25 days he has done live videos, including asking
others affected by a wide range of mental health issues to be guest speakers.
The videos have reached more than 18,000 people and 38-yearold David has had comments from people all over the UK and elsewhere in Europe.
And with the COVID pandemic having a devastating impact on people’s mental health, David’s conversations have literally been helping to save lives.
He told the News: “Two of my friends had taken part in the ‘25 days of fitness challenge’ during which they had opened up about their own issues which was absolutely inspiring and fantastic.
“I was nominated and as I’m not able to do certain things like press-ups I decided to do something else. “I wanted to do something to help
and raise awareness so I decided to do 25 days of videos around mental health and it was a great opportunity to be back on my Facebook page live.
“The response has been absolutely overwhelming. The main thing I wanted was for people to realise how important it is to talk.”
David’s own mental health deteriorated after his mum was diagnosed with cancer.
Thankfully she is now doing well, but it was this traumatic news that saw him unable to cope.
Since then, after seeing a psychologist he has being diagnosed with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and OCD.
And later in his mental health journey, around 2018, he was placed on the Autism Spectrum.
David said: “I didn’t know how to deal with the news that my mum had cancer and that’s when I just couldn’t cope.
“There had been things before that, but that is what was the main trigger for the breakdown. The Autism diagnosis explained a lot about the way I dealt with things in the past. I had always been anxious and an over-thinker and, although my mum has had treatment and is doing well, I’ve never dealt with anything to do with death well.”
But David, who works for HSBC, said the depression manifested itself in him shutting himself away – apart from his job as a football coach with amateur side Third Lanark.
“If it wasn’t for the football I probably wouldn’t have left my house. When I first started struggling I decided to take temporary leave, but I lasted all of a month, “he went on.
“I soon realised it was my escape – no matter what was going I had my football.”
A dad who tried to spit on a police officer must stay in prison despite pleading for freedom so he can keep his home.
Fraser Thomson was told by a sheriff this week that anyone who attacks emergency service workers in this way during the COVID-19 pandemic can expect a “severe” sentence.
Thomson, 29, a prisoner, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court following an incident outside East Kilbride police station on October 5.
He admitted threatening or abusive behaviour and assaulting PC Alan Fletcher by attempting to spit on him.
Jennifer Cunningham, prosecuting, said two plain clothes officers were in the police station car park shortly after 4pm when Thomson approached.
He was “aggressive and agitated”, and when he was arrested he shouted ‘I know you are police officers. You better hope your BMW doesn’t get firebombed’.
Ms Cunningham told the court: “Inside the police station he warned the officers had better use sanitiser after touching him.
“He swayed towards PC Fletcher and shouted ‘F ...... COVID. Have that.’
“He tried to spit on him, but the officer’s colleague intervened and no spittle actually left the accused’s mouth.
“Thomson was then taken to Cathcart police station and, having indicated he was positive for coronavirus, was processed by officers wearing protective suits and masks.
“No police witnesses developed any virus symptoms in the days after the incident.”
Defence agent Gerry Devaney said
Thomson, despite what he had said, did not have symptoms either.
The court heard that he confronted the officers after leaving a nearby medical centre.
Mr Devaney said Thomson had found employment and secured a home, but struggled to cope after being denied access to his newborn child.
The solicitor stated: “This triggered a drinking binge.
“He went to see his doctor in a tearful and agitated state. He left with tablets.
“He encountered the police officers and things snowballed. He’s expressed a great deal of remorse for his behaviour.
“Things were on an even keel, but he has lost his employment as a result of being held in custody.
“His only prospect of keeping his home is if he walks out of court today.”
But Sheriff Douglas Brown said only a prison sentence was appropriate.
He pointed out that Thomson’s remarks to the officers about COVID showed he knew exactly what he was doing.
The sheriff told him: “Fortunately your attempt to spit was unsuccessful due to the quick intervention of an officer.
“But that doesn’t reduce the criminality.
“Police and other emergency services deserve and require the protection of the court, particularly at this time.
“Any assault that presents a risk of contracting COVID has to be treated with appropriate severity.
“That is not only to punish the offender but to discourage others.”
Thomson, who admitted previous convictions, was jailed for 11 months backdated to October 6 as he has been in custody since then.