Viduka Hits The Mark wrote:Cant see a positive way out for the lad i'm sorry to say. If you haven't rooted the problem out by now and i'm sure he will have had plenty of help, then I can't see where he's going to find peace from. It must be horrible the feeling of worthlessness, and with that feeling be prepared to literally throw yourself under the bus.
That's a very negative viewpoint - you can but hope he'll find peace.
The daughter of a good friend of mine committed suicide five years ago last weekend.
She was a lovely girl, full of life and in her second year at university.
I'd known her all her life and she was my friend in her own right - we'd watch French movies together as she was studying the language (and way more fluent than me) and she was also the first person I'd send a new chapter of my book to as I was writing it.
I've not touched the damn thing for two years and actually not written anything more on it since her death.
Hers was caused by schizophrenia. Her father had it too and it's a rare form that takes hold during the late teens or early twenties.
She didn't get the help she needed because the local mental health service in Hampshire is shocking.
Her mother is campaigning to help prevent any repeats in the future, but sometimes she feels like a lone voice howling at the moon.
I think with Clarke it'll be different.
Firstly, he's a celebrity so the authorities themselves will be more likely to do something rather than risk ridicule in the media.
Secondly, his status will ensure that relevant charities will concern themselves with his case in order to highlight mental health for other, less fortunate individuals.
Thirdly, he can go private.
There are plenty of treatments available and I'm sure he won't have exhausted all of them.
For some, cognitive brain therapy can work though it's a long - even life-long - process and something he'll need to do every week, rather like a recovering alcoholic or drug user.
My girlfriend has ADHD and she is currently attending a therapy group for CBT to deal with it. She had been seeing a counsellor but it just didn't suit her as talking about it doesn't really help with ADHD - what you need is something more "active" in nature.
For Clarke, I'm not sure what will work but it sounds like the penny's dropped for his wife and that's an important step.
I loved that phrase she used about her own mental frame of reference.
He's got a network of people that love him and while that didn't work for my friend - and believe me, the aftermath is horrific for her younger brother and her mother, neither of whom will ever get over what happened - it might work for Carlisle.
I sincerely hope so, anyway.