Newbury man releases song Alternate Reality in memory of friend lost to suicide
A Newbury man has released a song in memory of a friend lost to suicide.
Josh Smith’s first Spotify release ‘Alternate Reality’ tells the story of the loss of his friend Darragh Spelman.
The song also explores an alternative reality in which Darragh is still alive.
Darragh, who was 26-years-old, took his own life in his childhood bedroom in Newbury on August 27.
Mr Smith wrote the song around a month after losing his friend – who he had known since he was 13-years-old.
He said he was in a very dark place, like a lot of his friends, and needed an outlet for his grief.
The lyrics read: “We can talk about your problems and get the help you need.
“Is there a way to wake up from this life as if it were a dream? This world isn’t real to me.”
Darragh studied Politics and International Relations at LSE and was descried as a highly intelligent individual.
“He was really, really smart,” Mr Smith told Newburytoday.
“He wanted to be an academic, he wanted to study further.
“And he was one of the funniest people you would ever meet.”
He added: “He was very thoughtful.
“One of the things that kept coming up after he passed away was how many people said he often asked them how they were doing.
“He was always trying to understand what was going on in your life and would do well to remember it next time he saw you.
“Even if he didn’t know you that well, he would asked what you’d been up to since you last talked.”
Mr Smith said that even when some people express their suicidal thoughts, there can be a stigma that if they have attempted it but haven’t gone through with it, they won’t try again in the future.
He highlighted the importance of the ‘ask twice’ rule when checking in on somebody.
“Everyone has a natural defence mechanism to say they’re ok when [first] asked,” he said.
“Some people put their guard up as they don’t want to let people down.”
Mr Smith’s song is available on YouTube at https://shorturl.at/abvAC
Anyone seeking support can contact the following organisations:
Eight Bells for Mental Health: www.eightbellsnewbury.co.uk – call 07387 962220 – email coordinator@eightbellsnewbury.co.uk
You can visit www.recoveryinmind.org and find a number of resources to help you look after your mental health.
Mental Health Crisis Team – call if you need urgent help, but it’s not an emergency 0300 365 0300 or 0300 365 9999
Sane Line – www.sane.org.uk – call 0300 304 7000
Childline: www.childline.org.uk – 0800 1111
Mind: www.mind.org.uk – 0300 123 3393 or text 86463
The Samaritans: www.samaritans.org – call 116 123 – email jo@samaritans.org
Mr Smith said a number of other charities have helped friends and family through the grieving process including Papyrus, CALM and SOBS.
