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SpunOut.ie Blog
Speaking out about tough times
SpunOut.ie blog: Ian Howley tells his story and explains why he got involved with the Tough Times campaign.
How would you feel if you knew something you were about to do is going to make such a difference it might just save someone’s life?
Nervous? Worried? Excited? All of the above?
Over a year ago I became involved with SpunOut.ie. At the time, SpunOut.ie interviewed me in my position as President of the LGBT society in Letterkenny I.T. SpunOut.ie asked for my opinion on young men, mental health and suicide. It was a tough question because I was hiding something. I was hiding my past. I had never told anyone before about my three suicide attempts. I had never told anyone about my depression. Nobody. Not even my family knew about them.
Within a few short weeks I was sitting in front of a camera and telling my story to a lad called James. As the interview went on I could see his mouth drop in awe. He was shocked at what I was telling him. So was I, because it was only as the interview started that I decided that yes, now is my time. I’m finally going to tell my story.
What a way to tell your story for the first time.
What followed was in no other words, amazing. From that day on my life changed. A day in which I started out not even knowing what I was going to say to a day that changed my life.
You see, all it took for me was a small bit of courage. That small bit of courage changed my life.
SpunOut.ie listened to me that day. They listened to my story and now they have given me a voice. In the next couple of weeks, I’m going to use this voice to tell people that all it takes is a small bit of courage and it will change your life.
I got involved with SpunOut.ie to make a difference and to hopefully save a life.
We are going to make a difference. We will save lives.
Tough times are exactly what they are. Everyone will go through tough times, but with a bit of courage those times can change. It took time for me to change my life, but what has happened to me can happen to anyone.
We here at SpunOut.ie are going to make people realise that everyone has the power to change their life.
Tough times can become better times.
By: Ian Howley
Related articles and links
Find out more about the Tough Times campaign.
Read Ian Howley's blog about the campaign.
Watch the Frank and Walters playing at the launch.
Watch the Hassle Merchants playing at the launch.
Everybody goes through tough times.
Read SpunOut.ie Youth Editor, Marie Duffy's poem from the Tough Times launch.
Marie Duffy talks about the launch
Want to get involved or to know more? Contact us.
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For PR Information please contact Sarah Gahan Tel: 087-6846088
