An extremely moving programme

It's obviously nobody elses business that someone's tried to take their own life, but I had no idea, re Knott and Danny Sculthorpe. I'm glad they've managed (are managing) to battle their demons.

It does make those ridiculous expressions to "man up" and "grow a pair" seem totally inane.

A well put together piece by Simon Jack, who obviously had first hand experience of the situation.
Interesting fact about Mr Jack. His father in law was film score genius John Barry.

Good post Lefty

My dad was 37 when he did the deed, i was 17 then.

I had this on reminder, i was a little shocked when all of a sudden Wire popped up.

Bridge's testimonial against HKR i'm guessing.

Superb programme. I can remember a long thread on here a couple of years ago re the subject of MH. There were those who were saying that depression didn't really exist and people should 'man up.' To be truthful, at the time I didn't have the courage to speak up, but as someone who has had 'a black dog' on a couple of occasions, I can say that it is a terrible thing to have, and at the time you feel like there simply isn't a positive future.

Excellent programme, well worth a watch on iPlayer if you missed it: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... the-family

Excellent programme, well worth a watch on iPlayer if you missed it: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... the-family

Never heard of them.

Not seen it yet so I'll watch it on catch up. Having been close to someone who did the deed due to numerous issues, and during some dark periods of my life many years ago I contemplated the same thing, it's something that I can partly relate to.

Was there any mention of Terry Newton on the programme?

Not that I remember, it wasn't solely about mental health in rugby league.

Drummer boy Tom comes on here.
If your a proper wire fan as I'm sure you are. You will recognise them.

Deleted. Can't be d getting involved in the crappy proper wire fan debate, far too much on my mind today.

No worries, thanks. I'll still watch it, hopefully it will still be on the iPlayer.

It raised awareness on national tv but I'll be honest i didn't get anything from it, maybe because I'm quite well read on it...i found the RL section interesting as an aside to the programme.

WF111 I can see how that can be taken to question you as a proper wire fan now. Although I hadn't seen that at the time of writing and it certainly wasn't my intention.
I apologise for that.

I was approched in the Rodney to do a piece on the subject, was to close to home for me and i was going through a real traumatic time in my life when this was being filmed, i could not of done it justice.

10,000 on average turn up
I'd be hard pressed to put names to more than 100 or so

Plus, if he has a drum, I'm not sure I want to know him

Some Wire fans are almost as famous and seen more than some players, like Arsenal Al and his flags. There were two faces that are very familiar in the TV prog.
I thought many would know Tom because for many years he had been banging out that drum every game.
Tom is a member on the forum too, drummer boy. A friend of Geordie who is the forum too, I would guess. Many of you know Geordie.

Is drummer boy the pre adolescent lad that insists on banging the oversized tambourine?

Tricky subject because the sufferer does believe he/she is alone rather like a ghost illness, anyone out there feeling the slightest down just talk before it takes a hold, there's lots of good things out there.

Some terrible posts on what is a serious subject....shame

Indeed, we've had several posters open up about their experiences on here and yet there's squabbling over who bangs a drum.

Mental health is terribly stigmatised still, regardless of what people may say, yes the world is improving but people still love a good old 'man up' or on suicide itself still love a good old 'cowards way out' comment.
When i hear this it takes all my inner strength to not go ballistic, to tell myself to stay calm.
People who are ill are damaged people, people try to reach out for support and all they get from emotionally stunted apes is 'man up'.
Suicide is not a cowards way out, until you have been there at that point you have no right to that opinion.
You're in pain, not a physical pain but a pain that consumes your thoughts, a pain that alters your whole world perspective, you start to think that it is the world that is selfish, the world that hates you but makes you live here, slowly dying, slowly suffering. You release yourself from the world because that is the only option you can focus on to take the pain away, like a pill for a headache.
Sometimes you work through it, the support network is there, and even with the best support network, life is very very hard for a long time.
Sometimes it consumes you and you take your life.
Sometimes you try to take your life and not succeed, i tried 3 times in my early 20's which then lead to me being sectioned.
I've always been pretty open, i refuse to let it be a stigma but i sometimes see the discomfort it brings when i do talk about it.

Very well put.hope people take notice of what you have written. I have suffered with depression and anxiety for years every time i think i have turned a corner and getting somewhere with it i get another kicking. My wife died 4 weeks ago aged 49 and this as just sent me down in a massive,right now im angry beyond belief and im having to be careful in what i say and do,seeing idiotic posts does me no favours.

Absolutely right.

Good post Yed, very open honesty and from the heart.

Karetaker I wish I had the words to make things easier. I'm sorry for your loss.

spot on!!
I got a quick interview with the panorama team in the Rodney a few weeks ago it was shown on Monday evening had to tell Simon that my farther committed suicide some 40 years ago!

Spoke to Simon for a while off camera told him I was impressed with his dedication to the programme and hope it saves a few dozen lives as well .