Graeme Hetherington

Just a big old gobshite. All ruminations are strictly mine and mine alone

[Rob Law @RobLawTees]

No matter which team you support - this is class

[Nottingham Forest @NFFC]

Proud honour. ❤️

[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.

[Graeme Hetherington @hethro71]

@dancingbear76 @kevinclarknw @DavePunton You mean you have morphed into me?? Good work

[Graeme Hetherington @hethro71]

@dancingbear76 @DavePunton And that was on a good day

[Graeme Hetherington @hethro71]

@dancingbear76 @DavePunton Arkle was always struggling to contain some form of emotion - predominantly frustration and anger

[Graeme Hetherington @hethro71]

Haha - it has never changed. Maybe why I work alone at home

[Bryn Hylton @dancingbear76]

@hethro71 @DavePunton The plight of us, man! 😂🤣

Always just a single Butcher’s guff away from an office evacuation!

[Graeme Hetherington @hethro71]

Love this photo and loved my time in Morpeth

[David Punton @DavePunton]

This month marks 25 years since this dream line up @dancingbear76 @hethro71

[The Daily Beast @thedailybeast]

A law enforcement officer appears to fire directly at the reporter, who screams out in pain.
https://t.co/PYXkk4zVIv

[Matt Cartoons @MattCartoonist]

'After the guilty verdict in the Sycamore Gap case, we now have a victim impact statement'

My latest cartoon for tomorrow's @Telegraph

Buy a print of my cartoons at https://t.co/ILFJjPmckx

Original artwork from https://t.co/bVPAkgE34y

[Nigel Burton @NB_Hd_of_News]

This is one story I would give anything not to have written. It's taken me a long time, because the emotions were so raw, but helping the Teenage Cancer Trust spurred me on. I'm proud Newsquest has made the Trust its charity of the year. Please consider supporting them.

[Shildon AFC Supporters Club, @Shildon_AFC]

Luke s poo sliding off
David Vincent on

[Mark Hammond @MarkHam80780803]

“Let’s swim to Holland and steal some drugs.”

[Michael Gove @michaelgove]

It’s a tradition for Secretaries of State in the department

[Andy Murray @andy_murray]

Never even liked tennis anyway.

[Jess Phillips @jessphillips]

Nigel Farage could yesterday have had the questions, he claims are unanswered, answered if he had bothered to turn up to parliament and ask them during the statement on the incidents in Southport. He didn't turn up, he grifted instead.

[Sunday Sport @thesundaysport]

Only in the fuck-witted world of government would you need an 'Office of Value for Money'.
What next? An Office For Not Slamming Your Ballbag In The Car Door?
How do these morons wipe their own arses?

[Graeme Hetherington @hethro71]

This account has made my lunch break fly by

[Gary Brannan @garybrannan]

WHEN YOUR EEL HAS A JAW
THAT CAN HELP THEM EAT MORE
THATS A -