I WAS WRITING SUICIDE NOTES ...I WAS READY

ANDREW WILLIAMS had just finished writing suicide notes for his family when the phone rang – saving his life. Just two months later the 32-year-old from Newport is about to attempt a record-breaking challenge to run 870 miles around the Welsh coast, from Chepstow to Queensferry, around the coastal path and back down Offa’s Dyke, to raise awareness and tackle the stigma of mental health.

Running has become therapeutic for Andrew, who was training to become a mental health nurse at Cardiff University when his self-destructive behaviours, depression and anxiety took control.

In November last year he was minutes away from taking his own life. His attempt was planned and he was writing notes for family when the phone rang.

“Everything was in place and I was ready,” he said. “At that moment I had a phone call from my doctor saying he wanted me to go for an assessment. “He asked where I was and I told him. “When I was speaking to him something clicked. When you are in that situation you don’t see any way out. But that moment was like my reset button.

“I ended up on a mental health ward being assessed.”

He added: “It was strange that I answered the doctor’s phone call that day. I think if I had known who it was I wouldn’t have picked up. “It probably saved my life.” Andrew started psychological therapy and has turned to long-distance trail running to escape everydayd pressures and negative thoughts.

“I have been suffering for many years with self-destructive behaviours and I was paranoid that people were going against me. It started when I was a teenager but I never told anyone.

“Men tend not to speak about their mental health but need to realise it’s OK to talk about it and be upset.”

Among running challenges he has already completed is the 135-mile Ring of Fire around Anglesey.

During the 870-mile coastal path run he aims to cover around 50 miles a day and complete it in fewer than 20 days.

He will have a support team in a van where he will be able to sleep.

Andrew said: “My aim is to raise awareness of mental health – that it’s better to speak up and not be held back by the stigma around it.”