A candid talk by a national mental health advocate about his battle with extreme anxiety and severe depression earned the appreciation of workers at a Suffolk financial firm.
The speaker, Ashley Riley, shared his powerful story with Beckett's Investment, a prominent East of England-based financial firm with offices in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.
Mr Riley cautioned about the devastating impact mental illness can have, not just on the individual, but also businesses, marriage and family.
Mr Riley said: “At the start of 2023 as an outgoing, comfortable, loud, business owning confident man I started suffering from a low mood and had a brief panic attack.
“Within a month it turned into life stopping anxiety and deep, dark depression.”
Men's mental health, particularly among middle-age males, is a pressing issue.
While 70pc of all men report experiencing anxiety or depression, only 40pc are willing to discuss it.
Suicides among men are alarmingly high, with a staggering 75pc of all suicides in the UK being men.
Mr Riley used his own journey to illustrate the cruel, harsh reality of this silent epidemic.
Listening to Mr Riley's experience and insights was impactful for the staff at Beckett's Investment.
Ian White, managing director, said: “Hearing from Ashley and hearing of his mental health journey was moving but also incredibly informative and helpful."
READ MORE: Suffolk Fire Ride set for cyclists of all abilities
Mr Riley, who has dedicated his life to supporting middle-aged men battling mental health issues, emphasized that anyone could fall victim to these problems.
However, he also provided a beacon of hope for those struggling, insisting there is always a way out of the darkness.
Fellow attendees praised Riley's candid and powerful presentation, with one commenting Ashley was "honest and pulled no punches", while another hailed his talk as "one of the most honest and hard-hitting talks I have ever heard".
Readers who would like to learn more from Ashley's story can find resources at bit.ly/BlueSoulShoes.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here