Jane

[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.

[Jane @cakie75]

@gardensinboots @CampbellTracey @cummins23 Welcome to the club! I’m on the Swanshurst Lane/Brook Lane race track

[Moseley Supporters @Moseleyfans]

Great news!
Come and see us at the MSA desk on Saturday to book your seat on the Coventry coach 🚌

[Birmingham City FC OSC @OSCBCFC]

This is an open invite to Birmingham City supporters and people in the local community

The OSC is teaming up with @BCFC and local community litter picking groups to help make the area around St. Andrews@Knighthead Park greener and cleaner.

#KRO / #BCFC / #bcfcOSC / #lovebrum

[Jane @cakie75]

@gardensinboots @SpringfieldWMP Just driven down the Stratford rd, Hall Green towards the college. OMG red route, giant car park more like. Cars double parked, but it’s ok, just put your hazards on!!

[Izzy Knowles 🔶🇬🇧🇪🇺 🌎🕊️ @gardensinboots]

I will be holding my advice surgery for Moseley Ward residents & businesses tomorrow evening 6pm - 7pm at @MoseleyExchange No appointment necessary

[Jane @cakie75]

@gfreeman2012
3- ..high provision set out during the mediation (over notional budget) and the EHC needs assessment process will restart from the date of the overturned decision."
Still unlawful, but not budging! Anything we can do before tribunal?

[Jane @cakie75]

@gfreeman2012
2- I have had this from (mediator)
Xx has asked her to change and rectify her mediation letter to this "‘xx will overturn the original decision on receipt of a costed provision map that reflects the

[Jane @cakie75]

@gfreeman2012
1- Hi Garry. Having problems with Bham LA still. We have had mediation for failure to assess at 1st stage. They agree the child has SEND and agreed child needs provision. They asked for a costed provision. We said that’s unlawful.

[Jane @cakie75]

@gardensinboots @WMPolice They have no thought for anyone but themselves. Same as the people who park outside Cafephilia, on the double yellows, so you don’t have a clear view pulling out of Woodbridge Rd.

[Moseley Supporters @Moseleyfans]

Just a reminder regarding our Charity day for Kings Heath Food Bank tomorrow.
If you can spare any dry food or would like to make a cash donation, please come and see us at the MSA desk in the clubhouse.

[Jane @cakie75]

@gardensinboots Happy New Year Izzy. Any idea why the recycling wasn’t picked up on this morning?

[Jane @cakie75]

@BodiguelSiena Don’t bother, their customer service is non existent. Still waiting for a d er livery from 27th Nov

[Birmingham Police @BrumPolice]

Can you help our colleagues from @wiltshirepolice?

They believe he could be in #Birmingham.

[Birmingham Police @BrumPolice]

#APPEAL | Do you know any of these three men?

We're investigating four robberies in Birmingham city centre on Tuesday 10 October between 8.20pm and 9.15pm and want to speak to them.

Contact Live Chat or call 101, quoting 20/900614/23.

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/pscNJ3yMcQ

[nazir afzal @nazirafzal]

It is NOT islamaphobic to detest, as I do, Hamas for the murder of Israelis
It is NOT anti-Semitic to detest, as I do, Netanyahu’s Govt for its treatment of Palestinians

It IS Islamaphobic or anti-Semitic to attack Muslims or Jews for the actions of Hamas or Netanyahu’s Govt

[YoungMinds @YoungMindsUK]

The number of young people undergoing treatment or waiting to start care in CAMHS reached 466,250 in May. The highest number on record. These young people could fill Wembley Stadium, five times over.

@RishiSunak, this is an emergency.

[Jane @cakie75]

@gardensinboots Any chance of the parking warden going round to Cafephilia, where car parks on yellow lines. Really hard to pull out of Woodbridge Rd safely.

[Izzy Knowles 🔶🇬🇧🇪🇺 🌎🕊️ @gardensinboots]

@patrickwillcock @BWMnetwork This is what I put together.

[Jenny Gregory @Jen_PCLOT]

@PercyShurmerAET @MontyAcademy @mrsrmurad I heard this week from one of our Occupational Therapists in the SEND team how staff are working hard to implement sensory circuits @PercyShurmerAET and the difference this is making to pupils. @BCHC_Childot @BCHC_OT @A2Education @EllieMayOT @BCHC_SLT