Today is recognised as World Mental Health Day, and this week Glasgow has been remembering all those affected by the many different facets of mental health.

Set by the World Health Organisation, this years’ theme is suicide prevention.

On Wednesday evening, the Mental Health Foundation lit up the side of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the Armadillo with a projection of a green ribbon, to marks the international symbol of mental health.

Statistics prove that two people die each day in Scotland by suicide. Men are three times more likely to take their own lives than women.

In Scotland, suicide in young men increased for the third consecutive year in 2018, and the statistics are more shocking when it comes to UK youth.

More people under 35 die by suicide than from any other cause, including road accidents.

The Mental Health Foundation is championing the ‘WAIT’ initiative, which helps people remember the ways to support another person who may be suicidal through encouraging open dialogue around mental health.

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This is something that helped former addict Mike Delaney, 59 year-old, from Shotts in East Kilbride to recover from his suicide attempt to become a highly respected psychiatric nurse and practitioner.

“I’ve had a successful career as a nurse and a therapist in the last thirty years, but it wasn’t always like this for me.

“When I finally admitted I had some problems of my own in 1996, no one would fund me because I had been able to manage before. Things really have changed these days but there is still work to do.”

“I was working hard and alcohol had been a problem for a long time. My job was stressful and there wasn’t many structures in place for taking care of staff.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t function anymore. As a mental health professional, I thought I knew all the answers. I just thought that there was nothing else out there for me, and suicide became an option, and then a powerful driving force. I just wanted out.

After multiple attempts, Mike eventually accepted and asked for the help that he needed.

“I spent five months in rehab and that changed everything. Away from the medical model, drugs and tablets and alcohol being the answer to everything, it was therapy that helped me.”

Mike has only recently taken up the role of clinical director for a new private rehab centre, Delamere, in Cheshire, which is the first purpose build facility of its kind in the UK.

Today, events are occurring all around Glasgow to raise awareness of mental health and to prevent suicide.

Stobhill Hospital is holding a fundraiser, the University of Glasgow is holding a FLOW talk in the Stevenson building, and Moving Minds are taking over Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum for the entirety of the day.