Duke

Duke. An introduction

Hey, my name is Duke A and I suffer from depression and anxiety. I also do alot of other things such as: writing poetry, riding and racing bicycles, fixing bicycles, modelling and playing basketball. You're probably wondering why I'm mentioning these things? I mention them because they are all apart of who I am, however they do not define me.

My experience with 15 + years with mental health issues has taught me the importance of opening up and talking. Through this I have learnt that I am more than my mistakes and that I am never alone. It has also helped mend my relationship with cycling. Before I used cycling as a way to torture and punish myself for not being "normal", it was actually something that I enjoyed. It was my escape, a tool which allowed me to clear my head and see my friends whilst getting fit. It has also afforded me the luxury of traveling the world and building relationships with people just through two wheels! Luckily cycling has now become this again for me as I found solace whilst riding up the mountains in Italy.

My aim now is to normalise talking about mental health which was previously a taboo. Coming from a West African background, mental health was never a conversation that I really felt comfortable having with my family until my older years. A survivor of two suicide attempts and multiple breakdowns, I can't stress enough how important talking about how you're feeling is. In providing safe spaces for these conversations, I hope to contribute to reducing suicide rates in young men such as myself. Letting them know that they are not alone and help is available.

As Nick Frendo says - respair. The word itself gives me hope that things can, and do get better.