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Richard was diagnosed with depression in 2010 as he'd been struggling with low moods and was given anti-depressants. He managed to keep things under control for a long time, though used to complain that the medication meant he never felt highs anymore although it did improve the lows.

He always struggled to talk about his feelings and so talking therapies didn't help. Over the next 7 years he became more and more depressed and was constantly changing his medication with varying degrees of success.

In 2017 something changed and he started to talk about ending his life saying he “didn’t want to be here anymore” on a regular basis which was very hard to hear. He also started self medicating with alcohol which led to psychotic episodes and several attempts on his life. He continued to spiral downwards, there was help available but it just wasn’t suited to his needs. His personality was so closed off that usual methods didn’t make any difference to him.

In February this year he was successful at bringing his life to an end and this time the signs were there that he absolutely meant to do it. He’d taken himself off to a very remote (but peaceful) area, took off his coat, drank his vodka and laid himself open to the elements which took him away from us.

Right through his illness he had moments of joy and laughter. He could be very funny and had a wicked sense of humour.

We miss him every day.

Massive thanks to Stephen and Paul for doing this bike ride to remember him and to raise money for Mind. I very much hope that the money they raise will mean that someone else is stopped from making another wrong decision due to mental illness and another family is spared from the gaping hole that it leaves in their lives.