Keep CALM and carry on...

Every time I see the statistics it still shocks me so they’re worth repeating no matter how often you’ve seen them...the biggest cause of death in men aged 20-45 is suicide and 78% of all suicides are committed by men. Shocking, right? You could probably write a dissertation on the reasons and this little blog isn’t the time or place for it but one thing’s pretty clear, talking about the shit that’s driving you towards ending it all is, at the very least, well worth a try. There are plenty of stories of men and women being talked down from tall buildings or rushed into hospital to have whatever they’ve swallowed pumped out of them who then, with lots of help and support, go on to live the kind of happy and fulfilling lives that they deserved in the first place. I’m not judging by the way. I get it. I understand that sometimes things just seem pretty hopeless and suicide seems oh so much more appealing than trying to claw yourself out of whatever mess you’re in...or think you’re in. The trouble is though (as many wiser souls than me have observed) suicide’s a very permanent solution to what's generally a temporary problem. There is help out there though. If you’ve got mates talk to them. What’s the worst that can happen? If you don’t feel like confiding in the people you know and love then try the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a wonderful website and phone service dedicated to preventing male suicides. It’s a charity of course, the Government’s too busy spending millions on referendums, but one way you can help and get something cooler than a penguin in a deep freeze is by buying this ruddy awesome Till Deaf Do Us Party Records compilation. There ain’t a duff track on there but I can particularly recommend The St Pierre Snake Invasion, Classically Handsome Brutes and Happy Accidents. Suicide sucks, this comp doesn’t. It’s simple. Buy it. Thanks.