I know what it’s like to feel there is no way out.
I know how it feels to suffer mental torture so intense it becomes physically painful.
I know what it feels like to decide taking my life is the only way to make the pain stop.
Saturday marks World Suicide Prevention Day.
The initiative aims to promote the importance of speaking out and events are being held throughout the planet to support this aim.
The problem is, too often the spotlight is not on mental health. Too often its a subject ordinary people do not feel comfortable talking about.
It’s thought 800,000 people die by suicide each year.
I almost became one of those numbers.
You may wonder why I would publicly admit that.
Well, that pondering is exactly why I’ve taken the decision to “open up”.
My own experience is one of struggling to cope with my thoughts and intense anxiety.
Without revealing excessive information, there was a time, not so long ago, when it became too much.
I hadn’t been diagnosed as suffering from a mental disorder and thought the only way to curb the anxiety and negative thoughts would be to take my life.
I can still recall feeling calm about the decision and accepting this would be my fate.
Driving home from work on the fateful day I got as far as mentally penning a goodbye letter to my parents.
Thankfully I decided to “battle on” and try to resolve my issues through being open and confiding in those closest to me.
That decision saved my life.
If I didn’t have a great family and supportive friends to fall back on, I wouldn’t be writing this article.
I’m just one story, one experience.
There are millions of people with similar tales to tell.
The reason I put myself out there and share this with readers is to show mental illness can affect anyone; it does not discriminate.
There is still no magic pill and any recovery from mental recovery will be built on transparency and bravery.
I promise taking the first step is the most difficult part of the journey.
Open up.
World Suicide Prevention Day comes at the end of Suicide Prevention Week.