Terminally ill 16-year-old takes his anti-suicide campaign to RTE

_Whimsical_

Very sad to hear this new. Sincere sympathy to his friends and family. I thought him choosing to try and do something positive with his time left was brave and generous.

james142

RIP. though I don't believe what he said about suicide is 100% correct.. Easy to say that if you've never experienced it

tawnyowl

pone2012 wrote: »

Psychology's a part of my course in university so here's my 2 cents

Im a firm believer that people who want to get help will get help and make an effort, those who dont wont. A big factor here is a persons approach to life be it optimistic or pessimistic.

And to the person who says suicide isnt selfish let me ask you something.

Imagine how it feels to be a mother/father/sibling/partner looking over one of your familys coffins thinking what you could have done/what went wrong,where someone so central to your life is ripped away in a flash never to return.

Dont say it isnt selfish to leave others behind like that.

Nobody is saying suicide doesn't hurt those left behind. Someone suffering from depression who has suicidal thoughts is likely to think those close to them will be better off after the suicide. Depression messes up your thinking like that -I suffer from it myself, so I'm talking from experience.

aimzLc2

Even if you don't agree with what he said just read this heartbreaking article and you might like me wonder if it even matters if what he said was right or wrong , he had so many dreams and such hope, its just too tragic to think how another bright young lad's life is just gone
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/donal-walsh-i-wanted-to-live-to-play-for-munster-to-travel-the-whole-world-29194810.html

Scruffles

many of us didnt agree with what he said but that woud be no reason to jump for joy when the inevitible happened unless were of a sadistic nature.
rest in peace to the lad at least he is free of that horrible disease now.

Dave147 wrote: »

Just wanted to comment on this, "a mental illness is just as real as cancer". While mental illnesses are terrible, comparing them to cancer isn't fair. My cousin is bipolar and has had a tough couple of years, but he's not dying, he has a good chance, as do most people with mental illnesses, they are not a death sentence like cancer so often is.

just because most mental illnesses doesnt directly lead to passing away doesnt mean they arent life threatening.
many if not most mental illnesses are indirectly life threatening at severe level,its just as out of the persons control-due to how it affects the persons mental state and cognition-as cancer is.
and mental illness in many cases is truly a living hell,for some people whose condition is hard to stabilise they are in that state for the rest of their life and its why some mentaly ill people fight for euthanasia [of people with mental illness].

just as may think its an insult to people with cancer to compare the suffering of mental illness,its also an insult to broadcast mental illness as being of automaticaly lesser suffering,unless happen to know everyone across the broad spectrum of mental illness have got no understanding of the suffering involved to make that comparison.

tawnyowl

DieselPowered wrote: »

Donal Walsh sadly passed away earlier this evening. RIP Donal.

Condolences to his family and friends.

woodoo

Dave147 wrote: »

Just wanted to comment on this, "a mental illness is just as real as cancer". While mental illnesses are terrible, comparing them to cancer isn't fair. My cousin is bipolar and has had a tough couple of years, but he's not dying, he has a good chance, as do most people with mental illnesses, they are not a death sentence like cancer so often is.

I agree i think there is no comparison. RIP Donal

RIP Donal and my sympathies to his family and friends.

Esoteric_

I'm not going to bother getting into the mental illness debate. Suffice to say, I didn't agree with what Donal said.

None of that really matters now, though. Rest in peace, Donal. Condolences to his family and friends.

Cody Pomeray

He was wrong to say the things he said; Suicide and mental illness will continue to rob young people of their futures just as Cancer robbed Donal Walsh of his.

RIP

Ihatecuddles-old

So sad, I read the article posted above. Brilliantly written and heartbreaking to read.

April O Neill

Dave147 wrote: »

Just wanted to comment on this, "a mental illness is just as real as cancer". While mental illnesses are terrible, comparing them to cancer isn't fair.

Considering many people survive cancer, and for others mental illness can lead to suicide, or make life a misery every day for the rest of the sufferer's life, then I think it is fair. Mental illness is as real as cancer. It's an illness, hence it is real.

Duggy747

Didn't agree with him but he dealt with his affliction like a champ and had his heart in the right place. He wanted to do right with what little time he knew he had left.

OCorcrainn

RIP Donal, my prayers are with you and your family and friends. I don't care if people thought your views were wrong or right, I don't think the debate is appropriate here now. What matters is that your heart was in the right place.

666irishguy

I can't say I can see how a 16 year old boy could have an understanding of what combination of illness or circumstances drives somebody his own age to suicide, let alone a grown man or woman. With respect to him, he wasn't a medical professional who deals with depression and suicide, so regardless of how much people admire him, they need to separate his plight from his message. His views struck me as being the simplistic views of a teenage boy. That so many seem ready to take his message to heart unquestioningly shows how far we have to go with addressing mental health issues. The fact he had terminal cancer is tragic, but it shouldn't be seen as giving him any special wisdom or insight on the matters of life and death. RIP Donal, Condolences to his family.

Afollower

That article is heartbreaking. He was a special boy whether one agrees with his views or not.
My heartfelt sympathy to his parents, sister, family and friends. RIP Donal.

jank

RIP Donal. What people need to remember is that mental illness is not terminal.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

jank wrote: »

RIP Donal. What people need to remember is that mental illness is not terminal.

It's just as real though, and a lot of the time, the end results are the same: ie, you die. Just because he had a terminal illness does not qualify him to preach or look down or dismiss anyone else's problems or health issues, with that said its very sad that he's passed away.

looking_around

severe chronic depression, could be considered terminal, as most will keep trying until they actually die.

just saying

fishy fishy

jank wrote: »

RIP Donal. What people need to remember is that mental illness is not terminal.

Wrong!

looking_around

you know,
I don't think the views on mental illness being terminal will change UNTIL, someone with life insurance commits suicide and the family sue because it wasn't "suicide" but the depression/bipolar that killed them.

Liamario

I'm stunned by the amount of ignorance on the journal of this issue. Pure tunnel vision, by people who have never been in that place. :mad:

dublinman1990

Even though with his views on Suicide and Mental Illness were controversial; he had appeared to be a nice young man all the same.

RIP Donal. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Seedy Arling

RIP. He held himself with great poise and grace in the face of a terminal illness.

Nappy

RIP Donal,

I neither agree or disagree with what he said. But I think looking at life from his perspective could help and strengthen alot of people. I read his article last night when I heard the sad news, from this day forward whatever obstacles I face I will think of him and his relentless fight.

Tombo2001

I hear what you are all saying about his message.

I'm coming from the background of having a family member who had a mental illness and committed suicide....

I'd agree that in our case, that our family members illness was not a death sentence.....but the thing with suicide in a mental illness situation, is that its not inevitable, but thats not the same as saying its preventable......you can do everything you can (as a sibling) to prevent it happening......but that doesnt mean it wont happen.

Personally, I'm glad he said what he said.

I dont think it was trite. It wasnt a "why dont you people just cheer up" type comment. I think it was particularly aimed at very young people who consider suicide, when they are emotionally immature. I think that is real, it does happen, and his message was an important one.....your life is more valuable that that. Dont give it away so lightly. Fight for it.

I can safely say that my teenage years were the worst years of my life. I was very unhappy. It got better.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Tombo2001 wrote: »

I can safely say that my teenage years were the worst years of my life. I was very unhappy. It got better.

That's good that your life got better but it isn't the same for everyone and to say that younger people are emotionally immature doesn't mean their issues are any less important or to be taken less seriously than someone who's older and feeling the same.

Tombo2001

LexieOnRale wrote: »

That's good that your life got better but it isn't the same for everyone and to say that younger people are emotionally immature doesn't mean their issues are any less important or to be taken less seriously than someone who's older and feeling the same.

Thats not what I'm saying.

What I'm saying is that when younger people face issues, they are less well equipped to deal with than when they are older....thats what I mean by less emotionally mature.

In my case, I was bullied when I was a teenager. I was very insecure about it, I felt awful, my self confidence was really low. I didnt talk to anyone about it, or get any help.

If that happened now, if someone tried to bully me now, I could deal with it. It might bother me a little, but not a lot. Then, I couldnt deal with it.

Whats changed is that I am more emotionally secure about myself, largely because I am older.

And look, I know I'm only speaking from personal experience. I know everyones situation is different.

_Whimsical_

Tombo2001 wrote: »

I hear what you are all saying about his message.

I'm coming from the background of having a family member who had a mental illness and committed suicide....

I'd agree that in our case, that our family members illness was not a death sentence.....but the thing with suicide in a mental illness situation, is that its not inevitable, but thats not the same as saying its preventable......you can do everything you can (as a sibling) to prevent it happening......but that doesnt mean it wont happen.

Personally, I'm glad he said what he said.

I dont think it was trite. It wasnt a "why dont you people just cheer up" type comment. I think it was particularly aimed at very young people who consider suicide, when they are emotionally immature. I think that is real, it does happen, and his message was an important one.....your life is more valuable that that. Dont give it away so lightly. Fight for it.

I can safely say that my teenage years were the worst years of my life. I was very unhappy. It got better.

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Thats not what I'm saying.

What I'm saying is that when younger people face issues, they are less well equipped to deal with than when they are older....thats what I mean by less emotionally mature.

In my case, I was bullied when I was a teenager. I was very insecure about it, I felt awful, my self confidence was really low. I didnt talk to anyone about it, or get any help.

If that happened now, if someone tried to bully me now, I could deal with it. It might bother me a little, but not a lot. Then, I couldnt deal with it.

Whats changed is that I am more emotionally secure about myself, largely because I am older.

And look, I know I'm only speaking from personal experience. I know everyones situation is different.

Tomo I think you have explained exactly what he was trying to say here. I do think he was addressing young teenagers ans not mentally ill people.I also look back on my teenage years and feel the same way as you about them.I know friends who suffered from depression during those years and who suicide attempts and failed who are now happy and fulfilled adults. For people who serious mental illnesses it doesn't happen but for most teenagers who hit dark days the truth life does get better in adulthood ,it is worth hanging on and fighting through.

When you're 15 and your parents are separating, or when you have no friend in your class of 30 kids and you feel no one will ever like you or "get" you because that's your entire life experience so far, or you feel hideously ugly compared to your friends,or everyone has a bf/gf and you don't then those can be dark days. We look back and laugh now but at the time those issues were impossible to put into perspective and searingly painful for lots of us. Lives are lost over these things. Lives that might have been wonderful.

I think we need to start telling teenagers it genuinely gets better for most people,not that every teenager feeling depressed might be beginning a life of life threatening mental illness.

Also very sorry for your loss Tombo. I think you've probably made some of the best comments in this thread.

Dude111

FLCL wrote:

To summarize, this guy is terminally ill and feels "anger" towards young people who commit suicide or are considering it

While I understand his reasoning i feel it is quite unhelpful.... NO ONE SHOULD BE FORCED TO STAY HERE,each one of us really should be able to decide if we like it here..... Who is he to judge someone who just doesnt feel right,etc about being here??

I dunno......... I feel bad he doesnt seem to have a choice in the matter,I DO HOPE HE FINDS A WAY TO STAY if he wants to but he needs to feel others feelings and why they might not want to stay!

Allyall

He passed away it seems.. RIP.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tribute-to-antisuicide-campaigner-29262803.html

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/inspirational-teen-walsh-passes-away-594191.html

EDIT, Just noticed it's been said. Leaving links anyway.
RIP. Just reading all through it now. Very sad.

RossFixxxed

RIP, misguided points from the guy, but his courage in the face of that is to be admired. My sympathies to his family, friends and loved ones. It's very sad. Ideally we could debate this whole thing with him for the next 20 years but he's been robbed of his life way too young.

Galwayguy35

RIP

I can't imagine what it's like knowing that you are going to die at 16, he showed remarkable courage during his final months.

123balltv

RIP so sad only 16 many sympathies to his family at the end of the day
its only the family who suffer friends come and go.

But depression is a horrible illness I have it cancer sufferers can get legs,
organs,breasts removed but you cannot get your head removed its a very dark, drepessing illness.

Dave147

Mental illness is not terminal, life threatening, most definitely.

OCorcrainn

The boy just died and despite that you people are still rambling on and criticizing the boy over the comments he made that you did not like from a TV show back from nearly two months ago.

STFU already.

Turtwig

OCorcrainn wrote: »

The boy just died and despite that you people are still rambling on and criticizing the boy over the comments he made that you did not like from a TV show back from nearly two months ago.

STFU already.

If you read back on the thread it was bumped to remind people of his tragic passing. He spoke out in public. That's regrettable but when you speak publicly on health issues people do have to talk about them - and that's what you're seeing here. If you want to complain or give out to anyone blame the folks at RTE who thought it would be a good idea to give him a pulpit.

expectationlost

OCorcrainn wrote: »

The boy just died and despite that you people are still rambling on and criticizing the boy over the comments he made that you did not like from a TV show back from nearly two months ago.

STFU already.

this is why http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/minister-admits-antisuicide-campaigner-donal-had-more-impact-than-any-politician-29262344.html
Minister admits anti-suicide campaigner Donal had ‘more impact than any politician’

this is (jr) minister at our department of health, talking brainless bollox, would she STFU

orestes

RIP, horrible to see someone so young pass away from such a horrible illness.

I don't agree with what he said, I think he was trying to get a good message out there but he was just too young to understand what he was talking about, which just adds to the tragedy of the whole thing on every level. It's the people who put him on tv that I have an issue with.

Dude111

Very very sad



Poor boy.....

Galwayguy35

Jernal wrote: »

If you read back on the thread it was bumped to remind people of his tragic passing. He spoke out in public. That's regrettable but when you speak publicly on health issues people do have to talk about them - and that's what you're seeing here. If you want to complain or give out to anyone blame the folks at RTE who thought it would be a good idea to give him a pulpit.

He isn't here to defend himself anymore though is he?

HondaSami

I admired his courage dealing with his illness at such a young age but personally do not agree with his appearance on TV. I know himself and his family did it for all the right reasons but he had enough to deal with coping with his own illness without adding to it.
RIP to him.

Dr Nic

RIP. Very unfair to see a lad like this pass away so young. Just makes you think about what youre doing and where youre going in life...

To answer some comments with what is considered medical fact (see DSM iV)
Mental illness absolutely is as real as cancer.
Cancer is a heterogenous group of 1000s of diseases all almost totally unrelated with a spectrum of prognosis as diverse.
Some cancers are terminal, some mental illnesses are also.
There are mental illness that kill quickly and are recognised as very lethal diseases

If a doctor said what this lad said, he would close on lose his job. Its counterproductive but very understandeable

SusieBlue

Heartbroken for him and his family. Too young to have gone through so much pain and suffering...Rest In Peace Donal x

RossFixxxed

We can still comment on what he said on TV as it is getting huge coverage, and has some important factors in the debate on mental health and whether RTE should have given him a soap box to stand on. It is a very worthwhile conversation he has opened up. We are also passing on condolonces.

We're debating the points, not having a go, or being crass after the poor young man died.

Mental health in this country needs sorting out. It's a total disaster. As many have said you can't turn on the TV for road safety warnings that are proven to be ineffective, but more commit suicide every year than die on the roads. These conversations, no matter how unpleasant or how they arise need to be had. This kid has opened the whole thing in a very dramatic way so lets keep mental health on people's minds!

Dravokivich

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

He isn't here to defend himself anymore though is he?

Its not a matter of defending himself. People shouldn't be in too much of a rush to make a martyr of the kid. He was in no position to speak about what he did, without the knowledge about what he was speaking of. People are catching on too much about what he said, without thinking about what it means. The issue isn't with him.

RossFixxxed

Dravokivich wrote: »

Its not a matter of defending himself. People shouldn't be in too much of a rush to make a martyr of the kid. He was in no position to speak about what he did, without the knowledge about what he was speaking of. People are catching on too much about what he said, without thinking about what it means. The issue isn't with him.

Agree with this. The point being that he raised a lot of important points for DISCUSSION. We're disagreeing with what he said as part of a larger debate, not attacking him himself. If anything, the real issue we have is with the media making him out to be a superhero.

krudler

OCorcrainn wrote: »

The boy just died and despite that you people are still rambling on and criticizing the boy over the comments he made that you did not like from a TV show back from nearly two months ago.

STFU already.

and many feel it was wrong to be given the platform he was to say what he did, his passing away doesn't change that. Nobodies denying its extremely sad someone had their life cut so short, but that doesn't give anyone the right to go on television and basically tell people "cop on I have it worse than you".

Brian_Zeluz

I fully respect Donal for having the conviction for standing up and telling the world what he thinks is wrong however in much the same way I cannot have understood his situation I feel it was naive of him to criticise someone in the situation where they want to kill themselves. It is obvious that he was not attempting to be anything other than helpful but for me (opinion) there was a subtle I'm worse off so stop whining element which simply does not get through to someone with a self destructive mindset. Nonetheless a life extinguished so young is a tragedy, RIP.

SusieBlue

krudler wrote: »

and many feel it was wrong to be given the platform he was to say what he did, his passing away doesn't change that. Nobodies denying its extremely sad someone had their life cut so short, but that doesn't give anyone the right to go on television and basically tell people "cop on I have it worse than you".

I don't think he meant "cop on I have it worse than you" at all. He was very humble and didn't want pity or people feeling sorry for him.

The general impression I got from that interview was that he wanted raise awareness, show people that ending it isn't always the answer, and to ask for help. He was pleading with people to think twice before doing it, to consider their family and friends etc.

He said he was angry that people were ending their lives when he had no say in the matter for his own, which frankly, imo, is an understandable reaction from a 16 year old. Doesn't make it right but I'm a lot older than 16 and I imagine if I was given the kind of news he was I'd be angry with the world too.

This is coming from someone whose had 2 members of my immediate family end their lives.

I completely understand the message he was trying to get across.