Mental Health and Suicide Awareness

Mental health can effect anyone, any day of the year, it can come in your life at any age. November 13th 2016...the day my dear brother, Abdus Samad Ali, committed suicide. He took his life because he saw no other way to deal with his illness.

This was the day my world came crumbling down. He was only 33 years old. A loving husband and a father to two beautiful girls, surrounded by a close knit family who loved him dearly. Abdus was the most gentle, kindest, sweetest person and a hands on dad who doted on his little girls.

I want to tell you that mental health is real and I've lived through it seeing my brother struggle since he was a teenager. The thing is we never realised how deeply he was struggling and what he must have been going through on a daily basis and ultimately why he decided to take his own life. I couldn't understand or comprehend what had happened. It rocked my faith to it's core. I questioned God, why him? In 2019 society still doesn't understand what Bipolar is and the devastating impact it has on family and friends.

On the 29th September 2019 I hope to run the Robin Hood half marathon to raise awareness about all spectrums of mental health to break the stigma attached to this illness. 800,000 people die from suicide every year..that 1 person every 40 seconds - it only takes a minute to change a life...

We all have our struggles in life, demons we are battling with everyday but let us open the doors to dialogue and share what we are going through so nobody feels alone or thinks suicide is their only way out. SUICIDE is avoidable and preventable so please dig deep and help support me in this endeavour.

LET'S BREAK THE STIGMA TOGETHER

About Walsall Samaritans:

Walsall and District Samaritans provide emotional support for people who find themselves struggling with a variety of issues. Our team of unpaid volunteers, provide telephone, email and text support throughout the night. During the day we also provide face to face support and outreach support to schools, prisons and at other locations such as Walsall Railway Station.

Our aim is to reduce death by suicide, but at a time when more and more people are struggling to cope, (with mental health, drug, alcohol, gambling addictions and various emotional problems) ur service provides essential support at a time of crisis.

We receive no central funding, and we aim to raise £15,000 per year to enable us to keep our branch open seven days a week, through the day and night. The service is manned entirely by volunteers who give their time freely to support the community, and also undertake various fund raising activities to keep the branch open.