Louise Swift

[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.

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@sccstreetsahead @southeastsheffi Where?

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@AsdaServiceTeam any idea when free from chocolate coins will be back in any Sheffield stores please. Even Chaucer store doesn’t know.

[Ellie Wilson @elliej_wilson]

🥺🤍

[The Figen @TheFigen_]

A farmer couldn't attend his aunt’s funeral,
so he put out heart-shaped food for his sheep so that "she could see it from heaven."

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@sccstreetsahead Is the road outside Ikea open yet?

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

What a nightmare @O2 are. My friend rang them today and they’ve cut her off for no reason, now won’t speak to her cos she doesn’t have a number with them! Erm yes she did till you cut it off.

[themaddycusackfoundation @MC8_Foundation]

Calling all football clubs across the country, last year to mark the passing of Maddy Cusack, we saw the footballing community come together in a minutes silence in her memory.

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@sccstreetsahead Still not been done.

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@sccstreetsahead please can the gennel from school lane to damasel road at Wharncliffe Side be cut. I requested this back in May. Nettles are crossing the path. This is a main path to school. Also the path over tinker brook leading from school lane to the glen. S35 0BU. URGENT.

[Melbourne Victory @gomvfc]

𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆, 𝑬𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒆 💙

We are pleased to announce the signing of English defender, Ellie Wilson for the 2024/25 Liberty A-League season.

Join us for 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎: https://t.co/CgBXnIFaii

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@ParksSheffield there are two benches to install at Glen Howe park near the play area. We have been waiting since spring and told it was too wet. Any idea when they will be installed?

[FA Women's National League @FAWNL]

If at first, you don't succeed 💪

Burnley open the scoring in their match against Hull City at the third time of asking.

#FAWNL | #BigKickOff | @BurnleyFCWomen | @HullCityLFC

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@lewniverse The Promise

[Ellie Wilson @elliej_wilson]

The end of a chapter..
Thank you all for the memories 🐺🤝

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@elliej_wilson @WolvesWomen Noooooo you will be missed

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@_katiehey Sky’s Edge is like nothing I’ve seen before. If you have to choose I’d choose Sky. Soundtrack is amazing, have it on all the time, different track depending on my mood.

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@WolvesWomen Get in Ellie!!!

[Louise Swift @lou_swift]

@AlastairNatkiel @SkysEdgeMusical Best show I’ve ever seen

[Standing At The Sky's Edge @SkysEdgeMusical]

Time is on your side.
Grab the HOTTEST ticket in the West End 👉 https://t.co/SmVsrL9S8v