My poem on supporting my friend who is suicidal
Bridget talks about why we need to have open conversations about our mental health and suicide
Darkness Into Light
The only lights in his life are the ones at the ends of his fags
And he can't tell his family
Because his Irish mammy will hand him some sudocream
And say “it's not as bad as it seems,
You'll be alright before you get married.”
The next night his parents are
Going to Darkness into Light
and patting themselves on the back
While their son's in the back
Of the garden smoking grass and lying in it.
Is everything okay man?
Everything's shite man,
Let's get high man,
And I can't say no to that,
I don't know how to help you
When I'm there myself too.
Talking about feelings burns my mouth
more than the end of the spliff,
And I'm wondering if
He knows I'm scared
That he will think no one cares,
And leave us here,
Unspoken words sticking in our teeth
Like sweets we used to eat
When life was easier
And all we needed was sugar
To get us back up on our feet.
When your son comes home
and gives the front door a clatter
Please ask him “what's the matter?”
And listen when he tells you
That he can't bear being alive,
That he's thinking about suicide.
Don't say,
“You'll be alright before you get married”
Because next thing you know
Styx will have carried
His soul out to sea
And we'll never get to see his face again,
I'll have lost my friend.
All because of Irish pride,
Keep it inside,
Be brave, be strong,
Big boys don't cry.