Simon

Corporate Communications

World Mental Health Day 2019 

In late 2010 my father was given just days to live with pancreatic cancer. He died just before Christmas. In the New Year, my mother’s cancer returned after a five-year remission; she passed away just months later. The last weeks were just awful.

I thought I could cope; I certainly didn’t want to talk about it. Emotionally I was a mess and it was only made worse for me by people ‘wanting to help’.

My work suffered and I got to the point one day where I simply couldn’t even remember the alarm code leaving home and just broke down on the door step. I finally went to my GP and was referred to a specialist. Gradually I was able to talk about my loss and the extreme emotions triggered. In the care of a professional, I was able to discuss and address my loss over time. It was not a quick fix, and I still have my moments today.

Our parents will probably die before us, and whatever our relationship with them, none of us know how we’ll react. I should have sought help much sooner, and in hindsight, wish that I had.