A KILLARNEY man who took the remarkably brave decision to go public to highlight his battle with depression, in the hope that it would help others, will be one of the keynote speakers at a major mental wellness exhibition in his hometown this Sunday.
KillarneyToday.com reported last December how Neil Kelders (pictured) had recorded a video clip, filmed on his mobile phone, in which he said he planned to take his own life because he felt he had nothing to live for.
“I’m ready to go. I don’t want to be here anymore,” he divulged.
But professional fitness instructor Neil (36), who has been battling with depression since his secondary school days, soon learned how to cope and realise that depression is an illness, like diabetes, that needs to be managed.
He has been lined up by the organisers of the mental wellness exhibition, Be Aware, Prevent Suicide, which will be staged in the Malton Hotel in Killarney this Sunday, from 12.30pm to 7.00pm and is open to all.
Neil’s topic will be ‘My past, present, future journey with depression’ and his talk will commence at 5.30pm.
Other speakers on the day will include Dr Tony Humphreys on the inner story of suicide and Joan Freeman of Pieta House who will discuss coping skills to use when suffice or self harm become issues.
Over 40 exhibitors will be in attendance, including help agencies like Console, the Rape and Sexual Abuse Crisis Centre, MABS, Pieta House and the Citizens Information Centre.
