Be Here Tomorrow

Author: Micky Welch

Three simple words, but a powerful message that we must get out there.

BE HERE TOMORROW

We have so many Mental Health awareness days and weeks nowadays that it can sometimes seem so blasé to talk about another special around it.

But at least it's being discussed more openly now, right?

Since becoming a journalist I must have covered 100's if not 1000's of stories regarding Mental Health. In the last year that I've changed the way I see them.

There's a big problem with people feeling comfortable speaking up and getting help.

This special I've done concentrates on men, but it does affect women too, it just seems the whole "men are men" and "man-up" shtick is what makes it harder for men to seek help.

I've known Darren Bailes for probably 15 years, we're not "mate, mates" we don't go out drinking with each other or anything like that, but I used to work with him and we still keep in contact on Social Media.

This time last year Darren spoke openly for the first time about what he was going through - that totally shocked me - but it got me thinking, he's been suffering in silence all this time but now has the courage to speak out - we should be doing more to help more men get to that same point.

84 men take their own lives EVERY week in the UK - that's 12 blokes a day that think suicide is their only option.

One in 4 people, actually, look around you now, is there 3 other people there? Well 1 of those, if not yourself, will experience a mental health issue.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 45, yet only a third of men say they’d be OK talking about their feelings.

Over the course of putting this special together I've spoken to so many men who almost share identical stories.

28 year old Jordan Warriner's mental health journey started 5 years ago - he didn't know why...

Let's make it OK for men to talk about mental health.

We all have a responsibility to reduce the stigma that stops men feeling they have no options.

We need to create a society where they can open up without being judged - how do we do that?

Well Jordan doesn't think there's ONE simple solution.

Well the Department of Health tell me one million more people will get support and £1Billion more will be invested in mental health care by 2021.

If I'm honest before I was a journalist I'd never really discussed any sort of mental health issues with anyone, I'm sure there was friends and even family who had problems but it passed me by.

Now though as I learn more I don't feel scared to ask, scared to talk about it or scared to hear what people have to say.

I want to try and reduce the stigma about seeing help - about talking to somebody - showing there's nothing wrong with it.

Well I survived it, as soon as the session ended it was like an invisible weight was lifted off my shoulders, I still feel a bit stupid for talking about myself when there's people with proper real life problems out there but here's the thing, if I'd have kept everything about how I was feeling bottled up who's to say it wouldn't have got much worse?

I hope if you've read and listened to this you can take a few things away from it - stigma is honestly the stupidest thing in the world, my motto in life is don't just get over your fears, get in front of them, have them push you on.

Once you take that first step you'll see the second and third and fourth and so on are much easier.

And please, if there's something going on in your life or if you've found yourself in a slump or bad place or your feeling down and you don't know why then reach out - there are people who love you, think about you, care about you and they can be a simple text, tweet, DM or call away.

We want you to Be Here Tomorrow.

Thank you to the people who bravely took part in this special.

Thank you to Matt and Shirley from https://www.ifucareshare.co.uk/

Thank you to Katie and Tim from https://www.necounselling.org.uk/

If you need to speak to somebody urgently then the Samaritans provide support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide.

You can call them FREE on 116 123.