Chris Lynam
A little while ago you know
I read some startling facts.
Some figures got stuck in my head
And I just can’t seem to put them back.
I read some sobering statistics
That to me just seemed sadistic.
But the more I think about it
It just seems indicative of self.
And I need to speak to you today
About our mental health.
So according to these numbers and I really wish these weren’t facts
But they’re imprinted in our consciousness
By these poor people’s acts.
So in accordance with these numbers
One in eight of us has tried
At one time or another to take our precious lives.
If that one doesn’t blow your mind
Then try this on for size
The biggest cause of death in young men today is suicide.
Now I said suicide right
Suicide! Not homicide! Or even heart attack.
And we face THIS epidemic
Apathetic on our backs.
And listen don’t tell me to calm
Don’t dare tell me to relax
Because I am angry and offended by these catastrophic facts.
Because we should have seen it coming
I mean we even saw the cracks
And we asked the government for help and they said they haven’t got the cash.
But what about YOU?
Why aren’t you angry?
Why aren’t you even sad?
I mean people come on! Why aren’t you all going ballistic when you hear the statistics.
And for those of you who may suffer still
And may be at the end.
Listen man I’m sorry that we failed you
And that you think you have no friends.
That we cannot see your suffering
And you think it will not end.
That you think we’re better off without you being a burden on us all.
Am I making any sense now people?
I mean the writing’s on the wall.
And for those of you who suffer still I’ve yet this to say to you.
I know what it feels like to have that black dog on your back
When you’re trying to make him sit but it only will attack.
And I know what it feels like to be sitting in the dark
When you’re trying to find the light
But can barely see a spark.
The NHS lies crumbling as politicians
Count their coins.
And we’re all just here disconnected from each other like a mother from her child when it’s ripped up from her breast
And we said this is doing our best.
I charge this broken system is polemic and endemic of its self.
You know lately I’ve been trying to find the words to do justice to this crime.
My thesaurus wasn’t big enough
And I just didn’t have the time.
Sympathetic, empathetic
The words are a hollow din.
We grasped it with our fingers but it wouldn’t let us in.
And we looked on it with open eyes but we couldn’t see it still
And we nearly had it for a moment
Until we lost our sense of self.
And it became socially unacceptable to discuss our mental health.
And what is with the stigma?
What is with the shame?
When will we ever be man enough to voice our mental pain.
So I guess this is it then
We have reached another epidemic
These bubonics of our times.
I mean the tipping point has come and gone it’s lost to space and time.
And I want to know something
Who keeps these totals tallied and keeps the books in line and tells us that every two hours
Someone else will die.
I mean what the hell is going on here?
Have we all lost our bloody minds?
And I also want to know if this is just a tragic game of numbers
Is there even a highest score?
And what will be that number before we say no more.