Andrew Mawson

The question for each man is not what he would do if he had the means, time, influence, and educational advantages, but what he will do with the things he has.

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

https://t.co/I7URSZlQZA

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

Suicide.

I'm choosing to be deliberately blunt and provocative in this post because it's necessary. Government, charities, football clubs are all pushing water up a hill in highlighting what is undoubtedly a major health crisis.

You take a rope.
You put it up in a garage or a tree nearby or far away.
You're thinking about every loved one you'll leave behind as you put that rope around your neck.
Then you drop.

Some are decapitated.
Some aren't.
All are found by someone who has a lifetime of trauma that will never leave them.
A son.
A daughter.
A brother.
A sister.
A mother.
A father.

I know 2 men who hung themselves.

One was found by his Mom.
One was found by his brother.
Neither have recovered fully. 20 and 30 years on.

A life sentence for people who were already worrying, terrified their loved one may do something.

So just visualise the above and ask, "is there another way"?

A segway for a moment.

I do a few Q&A's every year. Tales of yesterday with a 99% male audience of my age group.

After the stories and fun, my last question back to the audience is..

"Hands up if you struggle with a mental health issue".

Nobody ever puts a hand up. Despite 1 in every 3 of 500 attendees statistically struggling.

"Ah, nobody, that's fucking brilliant! Well I do! ". I then graphically tell people, stunned into silence about how a rope around my neck in the middle of nowhere jolted me to go home and cry like a baby to my Mom.

After the Q&A has finished, something always happens. I'll be chatting to a few guys, saying bye and one by one, men will come over and whisper " I struggle".

Or my mailbox the next day will have 30 emails from guys, their partners or kids saying " Dad/Uncle /Brother was there last night and what you said hit them hard".

And that's how some people realise that it's time to speak to a pal or family member or even rant to me in an email. It works, I often get a follow up email a year or 6 later saying that they took responsibility for their suicidal feelings and are now flying.

Humans are programmed to want to live, to have families and to keep the species growing and thriving. So for a human to want to short circuit that desire isn't normal, and it should never be spoken of as normal. It's the ultimate red flag.

If you suspect your mate, Dad, Brother, Uncle is struggling mentally, they deserve your intervention.

They deserve a " are you OK, please tell me what's up".

They deserve an opportunity to get past wanting to hang a rope over a tree or in a garage and slowly struggle until they die and you find them.

If you've been there and trust me I have plenty, then you'll know that text out of the blue, or a footie mate or one of your kids asking jow you are can open the curtains to some sunshine.

Because when suicide is your only answer, the room is already dark, and you can't see a way out.

So please, fucking pretty please, ask that husband, Dad, Uncle, Cousin, footie pal TODAY how they are.

You may be shocked what comes back but extremely glad that you asked.

For those who struggle, you're not alone.

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@MrTimDunn @LNER @railway200 @sdrfestival Great to meet you last night with our choir Infant Hercules

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@CRL_Airport Arrived 2 hours ago, still not through security, going to miss our flight. Worst airport I have ever been to, absolutely no organisation!

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@JamesBlunt @TheFoxnPheasant @TheO2 See you tonight in Brussels!

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@JamesBlunt , can't wait to see you tomorrow in Brussels, we've had a cracking weekend so far 🎵

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@ThreeUK Hope I get recompensed for this, it's not a small issue, seems like the whole country. It's down here in Teesside

[Typical Boro Podcast 👓 @TypicalBoroPod]

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[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@JamesBlunt Just watched the Netflix doc, top man! Hope to see you soon at a gig! Fuck the rest

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@mikemcgrother @networkrail Oh, you already have 😬

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@mikemcgrother @networkrail Might be better on your LinkedIn?

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@ThreeUK Still no signal TS18, been off for 8 hours, hope we get compensated!

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@ThreeUK Still no signal in TS18, been off now for 8 hours.....

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@easyJet Got to say that airlines get a bad rep when things go wrong, but thank you easyJet for sorting out compensation when my recent flight got cancelled at short notice.

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@easyJet EZY525 cancelled just before the 3hr compensation kicked in, so only a refund.Alternate flight no good, as needed to be at a wedding next day at 11am. Bedlam in airport, even Swissport said that was why it was cancelled. Hotel offer no good, as would still miss wedding.

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@easyJet how convenient you cancel flight EZY525 from Liverpool to Jersey to save paying people £220 compensation for 3 he delay...then only refund the cost of the flight. Absolute joke of a company, people missing weddings & funerals because of your inconvenience

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@easyJet ??????

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

Thanks for nothing @easyJet EZY525, delayed another 90 minutes due to having to change a crew member. Already 1 HR late, going to be nearly 180 min delay to Jersey! Embarrassing customer service....

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

We were told 30 mins ago we would get food & drinks vouchers, absolutely nothing in the App & gate staff conveniently disappear. Your silence is deafening ...

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@Tees_Issues HS2 would have fully gone ahead, if it started in Newcastle & ended in London. Not rocket science, & they keep saying Manchester is the North.......

[Andrew Mawson @BrisbaneLad]

@EmAtack Thank you so much for sharing the news to highlight mental health (Especially men) on WDYTYA, been away on holiday & just caught up.