chopperdan

huge hull Fc and leeds utd fan! dad to 2 crazy boys who are my world. love poker, bants, Guinness and a good whiskey.

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@FRFC_NUFC @FBAwayDays They have already automatically qualified for the next world cup unfortunately

[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.

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@TheBritLad

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@fesshole

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@TheBritLad Roasted a big slab of pork shoulder yesterday......honey flavoured crackling as well!!! Shove ya bacon ban up ya jacksie

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@hullfcofficial @ecostrad Welcome back Mr trump.........if you know you know 😏

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@uberdrunck @hullfc_stats We struggled to make meters up the middle. Sao looks like he's done for the season. We still look light up front to me!

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@fesshole Run....run now while you still can and thank your lucky stars you didn't get hitched!!

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@fesshole Definitely don't need that negativity in your life, he should at least given you a round of applause 👏

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@Tomaldo86 Who what when???

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@GazHarrington @hullfcofficial Be an interesting listen to the radio tonight mate

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@FBAwayDays

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@mikelavelle93 Cant imagine he'll be any good 🤣

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@tarajane_s1 Would be having words with the hooker thanking her for the hospital pass 😳 great hit but you got up and cracked on so fair play to ya. Cracking game to watch 👍

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@YasminLM90 First game when I was 4 and I'm 44 now. I've seen some dross served up over the years believe me but the fact we put that performance on show and in a derby game, I dont like to name players but if the stat about lane 4 carries in 80 mins and hes a local lad should be ashamed!

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@SeriousAboutRL Of course we are what a stupid question! Playing like amateurs, no leaders on the field, forwards near enough nonexistent, cohesion in attack is a joke, defence is pathetic I could go on. The first fc v wakey game is huge, already a season defining game imo.

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@James69872685 @SeriousAboutRL We managed 2 wins by the skkn of our teeth, the warning signs was there against castleford...30 unanswered points conceded in the 2 half and leeds should of won but bombed a couple of tries which normally they would of scored. Battle of the drop fc v wakey 🤦‍♂️

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@LucyABeaumont @BAFTA Stumbled on #hullraisers yesterday by chance and I've never laughed so hard, at one point I thought my rib cage was gonna cave in. You've got the hull humour down to a tee. From a hessle rd lad I can't wait for the next series!

[chopperdan @chopperdan1978]

@KbHFC99 Slip of the tongue from radders, wonder if he's had lessons from joe??