A Dumbarton man who was on the brink of suicide has turned his life around and set up a social enterprise to help others struggling with their mental health.
Paul Neill has launched knowehnoo! which aims to give people the tools they need to understand and improve their mental health.
The 49-year-old opened up to the Lennox Herald about his own battle, which saw him on the verge of taking his own life almost two years ago.
After reaching out for help, Paul went on to educate himself and completed a counselling course enabling him to help others.
He is now wanting to spread the lessons he has learned in his journey.
Paul said: “It’s really important for me to try and get the message out there about mental health and what it is.
“The name was derived because when you need support for your mental health, you need it ‘ehnoo’.
“The problem of mental health is a problem of feelings and we often apply the wrong solutions because we don’t focus on what the problem is.
“I used to research complex international markets and my job took me all over the world.
“I went on to suffer from severe depression around four years ago as a result of bullying in the workplace.
“When you’re depressed you can’t get out of a chair, you can’t wash or dress.
“In November 2020, I wanted to kill myself.
“I looked at my wife and two children and felt nothing for them. I thought it would be better for them and me if I wasn’t here.
“That’s the reality of suicide and depression.”
Paul said he struggled to find information to help and said much of what he tried were distractions.
He explained: “I tried alcohol but that didn’t help me feel better. All addiction, whether it’s an addiction to drugs, shopping or work is an attempt to feel something different and that’s why it’s a problem of feelings.
“I found it difficult to find helpful information.
“A lot of the solutions suggested to me were distractions, such as to go outside, but if I don’t feel good in the house I don’t feel good outside.
“I spoke to a friend and he told me not to be stupid. He was trying to protect me but all it did was deny my experience.
“The lack of helpful information or resources to help address the underlying problem of mental health and wellbeing of all individuals and families is unbelievable.
“Albert Einstein said, ‘If I had an hour to save the world, I’d spend 55 minutes figuring out the problem.’
“I want people to know what mental health is, where it comes from and what you can do about it.
“Unless we begin to understand what mental health actually is, then the epidemic is only going to continue and the effects felt on our children and our children’s children.”
The goal is simple. To help people access the support that they need to help improve their mental health.”
At the end of 2020, Paul reached out to West Dunbartonshire Mental Health Crisis Service and went on to receive support for his difficulties. He added: “The crisis team were very good and I would urge anyone who is suicidal to get in touch with the crisis team or the Samaritans.
“From there, I had a community psychiatric nurse. I was getting private counselling and I was introduced to a psychologist.
“I went on to do my own research into mental health and learned so much.
“I still struggle with my mental health. It’s not always great but now I know why I feel the way I feel.”
Paul believes the answer to improving mental health is discovering the underlying cause of why people feel the way they do, and understanding why the body reacts in the way it does.
One of the aims of his social enterprise is to recycle unused employee assistance programmes and make them available to members of the community.
He explained: “Businesses offer employee assistance programmes but the vast majority is under utilised. They are paying for a service which isn’t being used to its capacity.
“They are not as effective as they could be.
“By partnering with us we ensure that any employers’ unused or under-utilised counselling support is made available to support people within their community.
“It’s a new concept that I am trying to introduce.”
Paul is also calling on firms to get involved in a ‘Wear your housecoat to work day’ on October 10, which encourages people to talk about mental health.
Paul added: “When you’re depressed, it’s a struggle to put on clothes and get dressed so that’s why we’re encouraging people to wear a housecoat to work.
“It’s an opportunity for employers to get involved and raise awareness of the importance of good mental health, while supporting people in the local community.”
The social enterprise, which is not for profit, will also launch free introductory yoga and mindfulness sessions this autumn. More information will be made available through social media channels.
Anyone who would like more information can visit www.ehnoo.com or find it on Facebook by searching Knowehnoo.
