Having personal experience of mental health challenges and using Samaritans' services, Josh is a keen advocate of encouraging people to open up and seek help if they're struggling.
Having personal experience of mental health challenges, including suicidal thoughts and anxiety, Josh is a keen advocate of encouraging people to open up and seek help if they’re struggling.
Speaking candidly about his experiences, Josh said:
I’ve been through times when I didn’t want to be here anymore - it was a really difficult period. I would wake up every morning and think ‘I’d rather be asleep for ever – I just want to die, it would be so much easier'. A couple of years ago, it got really bad. I contacted Samaritans and I’m so glad I did – I honestly don’t know what might’ve happened if I hadn’t. From there, I got more help – my wife and family have been absolutely amazing. I still have good days and bad days, but thankfully I’m in a much better place now.
Josh continued:
Having lived with anxiety and depression for a long time, I desperately needed someone to listen to or lean on. To hear their story and realise I wasn’t alone, that I’m not the only man out there suffering would have been so helpful. I feel a responsibility to help people who are in that situation now. I know exactly what it feels like to be in that place of desperation and helplessness where you just can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a massive honour to become an Ambassador for Samaritans – to become the person I needed at my darkest moments is huge, I’m over the moon.
You can watch Josh talk more about his mental health journey here - https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNXDRhDkPQ/
Samaritans is also a charity close to Josh’s dad, Marcus, who is a listening volunteer, helping to provide emotional support to anyone currently struggling.
Both Josh and Marcus completed London Marathon 2023, with Josh raising more than £3,400 for Samaritans – the equivalent of funding almost 700 life changing calls.