Romesh: Why I'm becoming a CALM Patron

Hello, Romesh here - stand-up comedian and now proud CALM Patron.

You might be wondering why “that funny man off the TV” is stepping into these big shoes. So let me tell you why I was so keen to fill them.

Firstly, thanks Professor Green for trusting me with this huge responsibility (as well as bestowing me with the ceremonial CALM hip hop chain and gown - I think we can all agree I pull them off pretty well).

I’ve been an ambassador for the charity for a while now, smashing the silence around suicide through campaigns, podcasts and more. But it’s time to ramp things up a bit.

Despite cracking jokes for a living, I’ve had many low points in my life which have hammered home just how important help is when you’re struggling.

I’m not sure where I’d be today if I didn’t get help when I hit rock bottom. In fact, I don’t know if I’d be here at all.

I’m not sure where I’d be today if I didn’t get help when I hit rock bottom. In fact, I don’t know if I’d be here at all.

Back when I was a teenager I was faced with a turbulent time at home when my dad was sent to prison. A lot of stuff built up and some rubbish A-level results were the icing on a shitty cake. It felt like things turned to crap pretty swiftly.

It was around this time that I seriously thought about taking my own life.

I’d fantasise about a time when I didn’t feel like shit and taking my own life seemed like the only way to achieve that. There’s no getting around it, in those moments when you feel that low it feels like an instant way to make it go away.

But it’s that old cliché - suicide is a permament solution to a temporary problem. I’ve become CALM Patron because I don’t want anyone to struggle alone like I did for so long.

Talking to someone about what’s really going on in your head is the hardest part - it’s a bit like eating broccoli, you don’t want to do that thing, but you’ll feel better as a result.

At uni I plucked up the courage to get help and talking about what was going on got me back on track.

Initially I was embarrassed about seeing a therapist. I kept it a secret from my mum and my mates, telling people I was going to the gym. Although when people noticed no discernible difference in my body shape I think they became suspicious.

I realise now that it was nothing to be ashamed of. It’s one of the reasons why I want to become CALM Patron, because talking really does make a difference.

It’s absurd that 18 people in the UK die because of suicide every day. I want to show that no matter how bad things feel, there’s always a reason to stay.

Anyone can hit rock bottom and 1 in 5 of us will have suicidal thoughts, but it’s vital we all understand that those feelings won’t last forever.

I’m not saying everything’s sunshine and rainbows now - I still get low points where externally it looks like everything is great, but you can’t predict when those moments are going to hit you.

That’s why I’m picking up the baton as CALM Patron. I'll be helping to make sure more people know about CALM’s life-saving services, as well as raising as much money as I can to take the charity to new heights.

Together we can show anyone struggling that there’s always support out there.

My hope is that by normalising chatting about our mental health, it becomes as much of a staple as getting a prostate exam.

Romesh

PS. And if you want to chip in and help me with that £1 million target head to their Donate page - you’d be doing me a big favour.