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Man Opens Up About Father's Suicide On 'First Dates'

Man Opens Up About Father's Suicide On 'First Dates'

Emotional.

Michael Minay

Michael Minay

Coming out shouldn't have to be something, but, sadly, it still is. Thousands of men worry each year how their parents will react if they told them they were gay.

One man on First Dates last night admitted that although his dad may not have been all too comfortable with the idea, he'd give anything to see him again, and that everybody should value their family.

Mark, 29, was on a date with recruitment coordinator, Junior, also 29, on the Channel 4 programme, and was talking about coming out.

Junior asked Mark if he was close to his family - an interesting topic for many in the LGBT community. Mark bravely, and openly, spoke about the sad tale of his father's suicide.

Credit: Channel 4 / First Dates

"I was planning my mum's 40th," Mark started. "And he helped me, and then two months later he killed himself."

Now, that's not an easy bombshell to be on the receiving end of, particularly on a first date, but credit to Junior, he sympathised and took it in his stride.

"It knocked me for six, you know, it's not easy losing a parent. It would have been nice to say bye," he added in the backstage interview.

Back at the date, Mark questioned: "How can anyone to be that extent that they have nowhere to turn, no one to talk to, that they have to do that.

"That's the thing that hurts the most, that he had nowhere to go. That's what cuts me up.

"I see people now, I see gay people who are like: 'I can't stand my dad'. I'm like, you don't know what it's like.

"My dad didn't approve of it, but I would give anything to see my dad again."

Credit: Channel 4 / First Dates

Losing someone close to you, particularly through suicide, can be painful, and hard to accept - as Mark alluded to.

The charity Rethink Mental Illness state that when coping with grief: "It is common to feel that you didn't do enough to support your relative or friend, you didn't realise how bad they were feeling before they died, or there is still a stigma around suicide.

"It's important to remember that when someone has taken their own life, it was their decision and not something that you could control.

"It is understandable that their death can make you feel very low or depressed. There are place you can go to support where people will understand how you are feeling."

Credit: PA

Mary Reid, spoke to LADbible about losing her husband, Neil, through suicide. She said: "Thankfully, I've got my kids, so now it's all about them because now, I'm all they've got.

"I talk about it all the time because it's a big part of my life. He was very popular, so everywhere I go people talk about him. It's nice to keep his memory alive.

"I've been lucky, I've had lots of people around me so I can talk to them. But, if people don't and you are struggling, then do not be scared of getting help."

'U OK M8?' is an initiative from LADbible in partnership with a range of mental health charities which features a series of films and stories to raise awareness of mental health.

Explore more here and don't suffer in silence. Reach out. It's the brave thing to do.

MIND: 0300 123 3393.

Samaritans: 116 123.

CALM: Outside London 0808 802 5858, inside London 0800 58 58 58.

Mental Health Foundation

Featured Image Credit: Channel 4 / First Dates

Topics: Mental Health, first dates