Author(s): Peter Bell

Health and Wellbeing

If only one piece of vital information exists within this book, please let it be that appropriate help is sought immediately for any personal suffering. Getting help is a courageous act. Do not tell yourself anything else.

If previous attempts to find help did not deliver the required outcomes, please don't let this be a barrier to trying again. Don't give up. Keep searching for a different perspective - a new way of looking at the specific set of circumstances. I am living proof this is worth it.

Throughout this story, the words "mental illness" will consistently appear. When these words do appear, I encourage you to visualise one of the largest organs in the human body; this is the brain.

Like any physical component of the human body, the brain can also break. It may not be under exactly the same circumstances as an arm or a leg. There is a similar lack of control associated with such an unfortunate and painful occurrence.

I am yet to meet a person who would choose the pain and hardship associated with a broken bone. Mental (brain) illness deserves the same context. Everyone is susceptible to broken bones. Everyone is also susceptible to mental illness. It does not discriminate.

My personal experience is that some people find it difficult to engage with others around mental illness. Humans fear what they do not understand. Given one cannot feel or see mental (brain) illness, it is a confronting topic for many. This uncertainty magnifies in people who have not experienced such challenges firsthand.

Time, wisdom and greater empathy have all provided me with a more balanced perspective on the situation. I now appreciate that this lack of engagement is not always because the person doesn't care. They often don't know how to approach the situation in a confident manner.

This story is told to offer hope - hope to keep fighting and moving forward, especially when no visible path exists. The story is not only for people who battle through mental illness. We all share one irrefutable commonality: we are all human beings, relatable on so many more levels than we often acknowledge.

Given that this story is for everyone, I have deliberately chosen a clear, concise and direct communication style. Anyone who wishes to do so should be able to read this story. Ironically, this style also reflects the balance and simplicity I now require in my life. Mental illness is already a complex topic. It won't help advance people's understanding by complicating it further, nor will romanticising it improve the situation.

Throughout history, a number of wise individuals have insinuated that writing a short letter takes up too much time, so just write a long one instead. This wisdom is not lost on me. Hence, this is a relatively short story.

Please don't link the length of the story to the intensity of the fight. Such battles actually don't have time stamps. They require a never-ending focus and continual support. My fight is not over; it is continual.

My story is important if it can help others. I do not feel that it is special or unique. It is surprisingly common in society. Everyday people are not sharing enough of these stories, and they need to become normalised.

Lifeline reports that suicide remains the leading cause of death in Australia for people aged 15 to 44. The challenge around this national health crisis is immense. I finished high school in 1997. Sadly, five men from my grade have taken their own life since then. I kept these five men and their families deep in my thoughts while writing this story.

So why is suicide still referred to as the silent killer?