Declan Fennelly

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@DPWorldTour Well done Rory, the Irish lads, proud of you all

[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.

[Earth Hippy 🌎🕊️💚 @hippyygoat]

🆘SOS🆘
The Alma flotilla has just been swarmed by Israel🇮🇱
They are kidnapping all the crew‼️

Please amplify immediately

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@frpaddybyrne @ShaneLowryGolf Thanks for your prayers Father

[Rory McIlroy Tracker @RMTracker]

Someone nominate Shane Lowry for the friend of the year award

[John Duggan @JohnDugganSport]

Best Irish Pride I have seen since the sliced pan. 💪🏻

[Josh @joshpearson180]

Whatever they’re paying the head of marketing for Paddy Power simply isn’t enough 🤣🤣🤣

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@yousef_ki1 .

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@AzoMlota Why the https://t.co/kK3hwwZQPK is he ringing me again.

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@mog_russEN Maybe he's listening while Trump is not. Nice edit.

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@benonwine As an Irish am deeply saddened to hear of Ricky's passing, a lot of us have experienced sudden passing and it is not nice. My heart goes out to his family. I didn't know Ricky personally but loved watching him box. Sleep well Ricky.

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@bernardooooV3 We had with David de Gea, we let him go.

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@FionaSmall What a lovely man, a very sad story though.

[Paddystinian @Paddystinian]

Beautiful song from Irish and Palestinian mothers, lead by Irish singer Mary Black 🇮🇪🇵🇸

#FreePalestine #Paddystinian
🇮🇪🤝🇵🇸

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@petercrouch Me on a good day.

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@Starlink Is the world, gone mad. Can someone please help Palestine. What the fu.k eurovisn. The whole world needs to head to a place that was not theirs in the first place give it back to the right owners.. who the fuck do you think you are IDA. Killing children is so very brave.

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@BladeoftheS Well said Gary,

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@HumansNoContext Friday job, pub time.

[Declan Fennelly @BigDec69]

@VividProwess When did MMA become religious, I thought it was just man against man. Its a sport. Can we all just stop the hate and start talking to one another again as humans.

[Fr. Paddy @frpaddybyrne]

Brigid
You were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness. You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious,
St. Brigid pray for us..