Clinical Systems Analyst Danny Forbes is six foot four and out of work is one of the lads.
This World Mental Health Day his message is simple: don’t ever be afraid to ask for help!
Danny has worked for Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust for four years and fixes glitches with systems used by doctors, nurses and other front line NHS workers, so that they can continually provide the very best care to patients.
He’s sharing his story to highlight that talking about mental health and accessing help when you need it really isn’t scary, but the right thing to do. He’s living proof that there’s always hope.
Danny said: “Everyone would look at me and assume ‘he’s a big bloke there’s nothing wrong with him’. But that’s half the problem. Everyone has mental health, even people who work for the NHS. If you’re suffering - please get help. Talking and being open about it helps.
I always pretended to be the joker and a Jack the lad and created an entirely different person I’d pretend to be in public and with my family, so that no one would try and get me to open up. I thought I’d look weak talking to people about how I feel especially being a lad, I thought I was on my own. But I couldn’t be further from the truth. Help is available.”
Danny had suffered with problems with his mental health for quite a few years, but hadn’t really told anyone.
He said:
“It’s not been until the last 12 months really, when I’ve had no choice but to accept help. A few things happened and I’ve lived with without telling people about my recurring nightmares or how I was sad every single day for the best part of the last decade.
One day I went to work with no intention of seeing my family again when I said goodbye that morning. On my lunch break I went for a walk by myself and it was such a weird feeling, I was so sad and emotional, but I was also really calm and content, because I knew I didn’t have much longer till I could finally be at peace and not feel sad all the time.
When the working day was over, I left and went to a hotel room and just drank until I passed out. The following day I attempted suicide. I was registered as missing and if the police had come two minutes later….”
Danny emphasised:
"I have no idea to this day how they found me, but I’m eternally grateful to them for the help they gave me. They took me to one of our hospitals, The Harbour. In total I was in hospital for three months and I got the help I desperately needed.
Since I’ve come back to work, they’ve been brilliant, workplace wellbeing is so important. The support I got from my line manager and others at the Trust was brilliant, as was the support they gave my parents as well, being in constant communication with them especially on the night I was taken to hospital, I can’t thank them enough.”
Danny has a message for anyone struggling:
"The point of me telling you this is you are honestly never on your own, help is available. I’ve learnt that you need to open up about how you’re feeling and try and talk to someone, anyone is better than no one. Talk to your mates or if you don’t want to talk to family or friends, do please use our Talking Therapies where you can self-refer, and just don’t be scared to ask for help, there is hope and help available even when you feel alone.”
Did you know there are different ways to contact us for mental health support or if you’re in crisis?
If you, or someone you know, needs to reach out for mental health support call
0800 953 0110.
You can also dial 111 and select the mental health support option to get through to our teams.
Get the help you need, we are here.
