Sat and watched the movie again last night with my good wife,had invite out to pub with the boys but stayed home by fire instead.
now its a good feel good movie that we have watched before...last night the darker themes really struck me. movie began with Patch in mental health unit with suicidal thoughts,they came back out after lovely lass was killed in a murder /suicide .then straight afterwards wit hPatch standing on cliff top. so that was three lots of suicide "bites" in the movie..... maybe it never struck me so hard before, but knowing now, how Robin Williams took his own life,it cut rather close to the bone, so to speak.
There have been a very few people known to me over the years who have taken thier own lives...its a terrible sad thing,for all concerned. We men are some of the worst at reaching out when we need help or feeling really down...
had a really nice guy working with us this time last year,he had death in family when travel was shut down globally and couldnt get home for funeral or to be with family,it really screwed with his head...he left work and I couldnt get in touch with him..tried phone a few times then gave up...he is now gone... gone permanently.... I dont know details and dont want to. but its too plurry late for me to reach out and be there in support now.... dont know if it wouldve made a difference but wont ever know now.
if any of you are feeling blue...for crying out loud reach out...and if you know others who just arent in good head space...go have a cuppa or a beer with them. just being there and listening MAY just be all thats needed.
couple of years back wife n I went and saw Jimmy Barnes...interesting life story for sure...his two books working class boy and working class man both worth a read....he had dressing gown cord on his neck ready to go and stopped......he was Mates with Michael Hutchings of INXS fame and knew something was up but alas didnt reach out much to his regret.
yeah just wanted to put it out there folks,look after yourselves,the good lord knows these are trying times.

Sad, mental health is the bane of this modern existence.

Sage words Elvis…and Gelan has it right as well.

Most guys don’t want to reach out and bare their soul…it’s too embarrassing, so it’s up to their mates to identify a change in their demeanour and step up and ask RUOK? Be prepared to offer a sympathetic ear and little advice as it’s often the opportunity for a fellow to talk about how he feels is all that is initially needed.

I am a member of a facebook group of veterans call Disgruntled 2.0. We endeavor to stop the 22. The 22 being the 22 veterans that commit suicide every day. I always put out there to any of our guys and gals that I am there to listen and hear them rather than to not have them in the world. And that goes for here also. Now granted, I have only met Vince face to face out of the the entire group of us in the nut but I extend this to everyone here.

inthedark wrote:

I am a member of a facebook group of veterans call Disgruntled 2.0. We endeavor to stop the 22. The 22 being the 22 veterans that commit suicide every day. I always put out there to any of our guys and gals that I am there to listen and hear them rather than to not have them in the world. And that goes for here also. Now granted, I have only met Vince face to face out of the the entire group of us in the nut but I extend this to everyone here.

We have a similar organisation of veterans here in Australia that are trying to stem the flow of veterans suicides. Initially, the most important thing that any of us can do is offer the support of a friendly and sympathetic ear to allow the veteran to talk about his feelings and what he is dealing with.

A phone call is all it takes to ask RUOK mate…and that call can be from or to anywhere in the world…as can the support.

This group has any veterans from any of the western armed forces. There is a veteran from Alice Springs, 2RAR ??? That some guys have spoken with also. So there is at least one guy from your country.

Its hard to understand how someone can feel so helpless that the thought of ending one's own life becomes logical. If someone makes the effort to reach out, take the time (right now) to listen. More than once I spent hours sitting with my son. Listening mostly. Sometimes neither of us saying anything. But he knew I was there and I didn't judge. Times are better now. He has direction and can better manage his thoughts. I still don't know how close we came to losing him. And I still don't want to.

Good on you folks...keep talking.
Loke...I hear you on that one bud.......having teenagers is a scarey thing in these trying times....we got both ours to adulthood/21 so somehow we must have done somethings right,the good Lord knows at times we didnt know what on earth to do and felt we ourselves were ,if not drowning,were semi submerged in the chaos they caused us at times.

I'm usually not much for "self help" kinda stuff but recently I read two books by Andy Andrews, "The Traveler's Gift" and "The Noticer". Good, simple stories with great lessons woven in. I wish I'd had them when I was a kid. He also has a good YouTube video on the elements contained in "The Traveler's Gift". I bought copies of the books for my kids and granddaughter.

Another good book is "12 Rules for Life" by Jordan Peterson. Harder to read but EXCELLENT information, especially about communicating with other people.

thanks PUNKIN