Jordan's Conversation

“In September 2017 my son, Jordan, took his life. He was 25 years old, a painter and decorator, working at Seddon and his passing came as a massive shock to his family and friends.

The last thing I said to Jordan was ‘I love you,’ on Monday evening. On Wednesday, I was told he had passed away. None of the words made sense; I knew what they meant, but they didn’t fit together in the sentence. I didn’t understand how they could be about my son, someone so loving and fearless and full of life.

No one had any idea that Jordan was suffering. If he would have reached out to any of us we would have helped him get the support he needed. We would have got him through it, we always did, we always made sure he was ok, and for the most part, he was. I think there was just one moment where he couldn’t see a way forward and he made a decision and it’s the one thing that we can’t fix.

I would give anything to get him back, my own life for his, but I know that’s not possible. What I can do is share our story, talk about it and let other people know that, in their darkest moments, there is always someone willing to listen and help. We don’t close doors in our house, we don’t hide Jordan’s passing, we talk about him, we celebrate his life and we are strong for him, because if he saw us hurting he would never find peace.

Jordan’s Conversation is such a vital initiative; I felt I had no option but to get involved, to help; it’s what Jordan would have wanted. We need to get men especially to open up about how they feel. We need to let them know that no one is bulletproof, that it’s OK to need help and we need to encourage them to reach out for support. I don’t want anyone to ever feel like Jordan must have felt, like they couldn’t carry on.

There is always someone to help, please be brave enough to reach out.”

If you or someone you know are struggling with their mental health, please visit the below pages for help and advice:

Samaritans

Mates in Mind

Mind

Mental Health Organisation