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Cycle Against Suicide

An organisation set up by Jim Breen, where thousands of people cycle through Ireland every year, to break the cycle of suicide.
Cleverly placed pun.
Today, the lovely Mr Breen came to my school and talked to all seven hundred plus of us.
In the back, wearing a disgustingly bright orange shirt in support (and feeling decidedly Dutch), I was struggling not to cry.
Not that he was being morbid. He didn't delve into details of his depression, or any gruesome details of suicide.
He spoke in such a way that was amazing. He spoke to us in a way that reached all levels of understanding in relation to mental health.
He was able to educate those who have never experienced a mental monster, without boring them, or frightening them off the topic.
Though, even with such sensitivity, he was able to touch those who had suffered mental illness. It was like a little nod to us. We knew we were understood, that he understood.
For me, that is always extremely emotional. For someone to understand the somewhat indescribable is incredible. That's when the tears already started gathering.

He told us what he loved. Jim Breen loves Taylor Swifts music. He loves Christmas cake. He loves the smell of freshly cut grass.
But when he's feeling depressed, all music sounds like adverts, even Queen Taylor. All food tastes like porridge, even if it's the most delicious Christmas cake. And freshly cut grass isn't special anymore.
This stuck with me, because as he said, he felt disconnected with the world, which is exactly how I feel. I knew I wasn't alone, and that other people must feel this way too. Perhaps it's something simple and silly sounding, but when something you love is dulled by mental illness, it sucks.

This talk was brilliant, as it reached to me, someone who was once on the brink of suicide, and it reached others who had only heard the word mental illness once or twice before.
So thank you, Mr Breen. And thank you everyone else who supports positive mental health.

Keep an eye out to see new blog posts every Wednesday ^-^ Mental health, long distance relationships, Dear Becky are usual themes, but random thoughts come too
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