By Callum Ludwig
A self-published writer is sharing his lived experiences of mental illness in Warburton as part of a book tour.
Luke O’Brien’s book ‘I Don’t Want To Pressure You, But I See The Best In You’ is a first-hand account of his experiences since being diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder in 2016 through the medium of poems.
Mr O’Brien said the book is a really honest portrayal of mental health.
“It has been about two years in the making, and I was going through some difficult periods with my mental health over the years. The lockdowns for many of us, and especially people with mental health problems and struggles, really affected them,” he said.
“I utilised the time I had when I was not feeling great to create and write poetry and started from 2016 and wrote down my experiences in poetry form. It’s not a self-help book or a guidebook, it’s just about the development of my mental illness to where I am at the moment now, with being able to work, support myself and live in my own place.”
Mr O’Brien will be visiting Koha Community Cafe in Warburton on Saturday 15 October from 6pm.
The writer said the main thing he wants people to take away from it is that people will see the best in you, and you can see the best in you.
“It could also be something that helps them see that it’s okay to talk to people, it’s okay to cry, it’s okay to paint your nails, it’s okay to do a lot of things that we potentially believe isn’t the right thing to do, especially as a man,” he said.
“There are always things that can better you and you deserve that. I really wanted to try and get people able to understand and be okay with what they’ve done in the past or even are currently doing.
“They’re more than their mental illness and are more than maybe what they’re currently believing they are.”
Mr O’Brien’s journey has seen him face a lot of mental turmoil and challenges, battling with substance misuse, his own suicide attempts and self-harm and the loss of a close friend to suicide, which has further dissuaded him from making attempts on his own life after seeing the effects it had on himself and others close to the individual.
Mr O’Brien said the decision to check himself into the mental health ward at a hospital was one of the big points of his life.
“I was there for three or four days under supervision, because I was suicidal. It was a very sobering point in my life as well.”
Mr O’Brien said a moment that he will also never forget was when he was working as a tradie and one day he broke down on site.
“It was the amount of crying I’d held in for so long, and trying to come to terms with being someone that was working in a male-dominated industry where I thought I couldn’t show any emotion and it pushed me to drink a lot and punish myself.
“What I try to say is each time that happens, when you are trying to pick the pieces up, to not be as hard on yourself as I guess I was and try and build back up the life that you have.”
Previous shows were held in Melbourne and Northcote over the last month, and Warburton is the final stop.
Mr O’Brien said the first two shows have been incredible with people that have come in and the conversations that have been had afterwards.
“What I encourage people to do is if they do come, it’s a safe space, it’s going to be an event that I want to cater to people that may be experiencing anxiety, that may be experiencing depression, that may be feeling like they don’t belong, and create a space that is really accepting of that,” he said.
“I really want people to come from all walks of life, and have a night that encourages and advocates and shows that mental illness isn’t going to destroy your life.”
Mr O’Brien’s book can be bought here: www.fruitylex.bigcartel.com/product/i-don-t-want-to-pressure-you-but-i-see-the-best-in-you
Tickets to the show can be bought for $5.65 here: www.eventbrite.com/e/poetry-music-and-unapologetic-vulnerability-tickets-430280369167?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb
If this conversation has raised any issues for you and you need information or support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14,
Mr O’Brien also encouraged anyone with any questions about the event to reach out to him privately at lukay7801@gmail.com
