“All great changes are preceded by chaos” - Deepak Chopra.

The World Health Organisation suggests that we lose one person to suicide every 40 seconds. Six years ago, on the 21st of September, 2014, my father became one of those statistics…

Robin Sharma – author of “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” – suggests that “change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end”. A caterpillar must first become a “liquid, soupy mess” before emerging as a butterfly. We too must perhaps endure the hardship and “emotional soup” of transformation - to facilitate the emergence of our authentic selves. To become who we were perhaps always destined to be, rising phoenix-like from the ashes of our experiences…

These past six years have represented an incredible journey of evolution and transformation. There have been many challenges, hardships, and no shortage of “hot mess”. There have been casualties along the way, and to you I offer my sincere apologies, but also my heartfelt admiration and gratitude for your sacrifices.

Although not quite “gorgeous” – it is a journey, rather than a destination – I would argue that I have never been more authentic, or aligned with my calling. I am passionate in my advocacy of the prevention of suicide, and privileged to empower mental health first aiders with the skills to be the support that was perhaps not readily available to my father six years ago… As Brendon Burchard – the world’s leading high performance coach – would suggest, I “honour the struggle”. I would not be the person I am today without my experiences.

If you feel that you’re struggling, perhaps you’re currently in “chrysalis”. There is always H.O.P.E. (Hold On, Pain Ends), and remember, caterpillars are born with everything they need to become butterflies…

M.J. "Beetle" Bailey – this is for you… Thank You. Rest In Peace.