I was asked to write a piece for the work newsletter, as I am a Health and Wellbeing Champion, following Mental Health Week.
Some of you may have already seen this, due to me posting it on FB, but I hope you feel it is worth sharing to a wider audience (thanks to Mrs T for spelling and grammar checking)
On the Friday of Mental Health Week 2018, I am reminded, by the modern wonder of Facebook’s “On This Day” feature, of the too early passing of one of my musical heroes. On the morning of 18th May 2017 Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Audioslave), after years of battling his own issues, was discovered dead in his hotel room.
I am not normally moved by the death of someone in the glare of the celebrity spotlight but Chris’s music had been with me since my late teens. I remember seeing the video to “Black Hole Sun” and thinking that although the product of a tortured soul, there was something in it that spoke to me.
After all the media storm (which was much more low key than that of other “celebrity” deaths over the previous year or so) had died down, I spent some time looking at just what would drive someone who seemed to have it all, to take the ultimate step. What I discovered, was that he had suffered with varying degrees of depression during his life, had received counselling and had tried medication.
At the end of it, I was actually left with more questions than answers; specifically, “why?”:
Why did someone who seemed to have a good life want to end it all?
Why at that precise time?
Why didn’t anyone in his group of friends and family, notice and intervene? Had they tried previously and ultimately given up, exhausted?
This lead me on to more questions:
-What would I do if I saw a friend, family member, or colleague, going through issues?
-What if the tables were turned and I was the person feeling that way?
I am not 100% certain I know the answer to any of the questions. Apart from the last one. The answer, I hope, is obvious. I would hope that someone would notice and talk to me.
Help for those suffering with mental health issues doesn’t always come from the professionals (in fact only a small minority of the help given does come from that route), so please, I ask you, be the person who has the courage to ask “are you OK?” Don’t expect to get a positive response. Be the person that listens if there is something to talk about - if the appropriate time isn’t there and then, be available at a later time.
In the meantime, do your ears a favour by checking out Chris’s work. Spotify has a great playlist of all his work.
