And Then He Died - A Blog for Mental Health Awareness Week

As it is currently Mental Health Awareness Week, I wanted to make some contributions through my own platforms. My first short piece links, as ever, to music. I was listening recently to some vinyl from a band called The Thieves, from the West of Scotland, who released four singles in a very short period in the late 1980’s – testimony that no matter how short the time, giving something a real go can create positive results, and The Thieves certainly did that. And for some, including me, it's great to have the output of their creative minds available forever.

One thing about music is often the surprises on the B-sides of singles. One such single was Soul Thief, released in 1989. I was listening to the B-side recently, and a track called ‘And Then He Died’ – it stopped me from what I was doing and made me put the needle back to the start:

‘Well the rain came down and washed away the chalk marks on the ground, there’s a vacancy created by the body that was found, well he tried so hard to work it out, he tried so hard to cope, but then no-one tried to understand, and no-one gave him hope…..and then he died.’

Written by band member, Daniel Wylie, after one of his own friends had taken their own life, the song lives on in a few copies of this record 32 years later. The song is upbeat, and the lyrics take you somewhat by surprise, but this of course, is life. Someone appearing upbeat and positive may be struggling beyond belief, so if you’re not sure, ask, then ask again, if they are ok.

Like a record, don’t simply listen to the headline track you are hearing from people around you. Flip it over and hear the other side, for it is then you may hear what a friend or family member is really trying to say.