Donal Walsh RIP

Gael23

The 16 year old boy who recently appeared on The Saturday Night show to talk about his battle with cancer has died.
I dont have a link just yet as its fairly breaking news

Lady Chatterton

This is very sad news

Condolences to his family and friends - May he rest in peace.

JP Liz V1

His poor family and friends, my sympathies to them, such a young age RIP

madcabbage

A brave young man. RIP May he rest in peace.

the big show

Very sad rip

travellingbid

I cried the night he was on the Saturday night show...........he was amazing and undoubtedly one of the most inspirational people I've ever come across. I'll shed a tear for him tonight.............I hope his family can take solace from the amazing impact this young man has had an everyone who watched him that night........his star will shine on

flutered

a great kid, who comes from a fantastic family, i knew all his family, fantastic people in face of adversity, his grandad aslo named donal was commonly known as superman, due to his ability to perform in the face of adversity, his great grandad named jacky was also cut of the same cloth, shine on young star, you have given us a harsh lesson on our journey thro life, shine on donal.

Atlantic Dawn

I'm very sadened by this news tonight, he seemed so healthy on the SNS those weeks ago. My pointless complaints in life seem so petty in comparison, rest well young chap, your time was short but well spent.

twirlagig

Saddened by this news also. Watched his interview that night and it stuck in my head for a long time. Rest in peace, Donal, and thoughts tonight with his family.

jos28

Terribly sad to hear of Donal's passing, he fought so hard to stay here. My heart goes out to his family, may they find comfort in the legacy that Donal left behind. RIP young man.

Edit - Just noticed a FB page set up in Donal's memory, it was only opened 2 hours ago and already has over 50,000 likes

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rest-In-Peace-Donal-Walsh-%E1%83%A6/450629628348091?hc_location=stream

RabbleRouser2k

The Daily Shift has it on their website.

http://thedailyshift.com/2013/05/12/terminally-ill-donal-walsh-dies-from-cancer/

DieselPowered

Already posted earlier on the other thread about his appearance on TV.

RIP Donal.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056919698&page=40

gjc

RIP Donal..... My heart breaks for you and your family

crazygeryy

sad very sad.r.i.p donal.

i hope his message gets through to all the people thinking of suicide.

ps why is this in the tv section.bit odd.

Lady Chatterton

crazygeryy wrote: »

sad very sad.r.i.p donal.

i hope his message gets through to all the people thinking of suicide.

ps why is this in the tv section.bit odd.

I know it's a little unusual but I actually think it's appropriate on this occasion.

Most people weren't aware of Donal or his blight until he appeared on the Saturday Night Show with Brendan O'Connor. The interview really touched a lot of Boardsies on this forum so I feel it's fitting that we now use this forum to pass on our condolences to his loved ones.

Sad as it is to see someone so young die I really do think that the media has blown his death completely out of proportion. I found his comments on suicide to be extreme naive and further stigmatized mental illness.

grey_so_what

Deleted User wrote: »

Sad as it is to see someone so young die I really do think that the media has blown his death completely out of proportion. I found his comments on suicide to be extreme naive and further stigmatized mental illness.

Regardless of the media, There is no doubt this young man touched many hearts.

His comments were heard and I'm sure that was all he wanted.

I grieve for him, his parents, family and friends.

A child (and, yes, I regard him as a child) has died from a terminal illness.

May he rest in peace.

RabbleRouser2k

Deleted User wrote: »

Sad as it is to see someone so young die I really do think that the media has blown his death completely out of proportion. I found his comments on suicide to be extreme naive and further stigmatized mental illness.

I feel much the same way. I have neighbours who have lost brothers and sons to suicide, and there are many more people I know who are suffering greatly with mental illness. Sometimes the help is there, but it is not great. It takes a few tries to find help that works. (Every patient is different)

I won't go into the tragedy that is suicide, since that is what it is, is tragedy. (As is dying young, obviously.) But for some people, reaching that dark abyss and feeling like there is no way out...it is far more complex than simply needing help. For some people, it requires not just rebuilding one's confidence, but creating confidence, which is non existent in some people.

DieselPowered

Has anyone seen "Reality Bites - Donal Walsh - My Story" on Network 2 tonight.
Inspiring to say the least and the impact Donal has had still lives on.

goat2

DieselPowered wrote: »

Has anyone seen "Reality Bites - Donal Walsh - My Story" on Network 2 tonight.
Inspiring to say the least and the impact Donal has had still lives on.

i watched, found it heartbreaking to such a beautiful person so young, selfless, with lot of things he wish he could live to achieve, travelling and growing up with his sister and friends,
words are hard to find to say how i feel right now after watching it,
sad, is just one,

Neeson

Didn't watch this. Was he preaching to the mentally ill not to kill themselves again?

technocrat

Neeson wrote: »

Didn't watch this. Was he preaching to the mentally ill not to kill themselves again?

Not everyone contemplating suicide is "mentally ill"!

Neeson

technocrat wrote: »

Not everyone contemplating suicide is "mentally ill"!

Right sorry well the suicidal preaching?

technocrat

Neeson wrote: »

Right sorry well the suicidal preaching?

No he wasn't.

I like most people found him a great inspiration that's did lots of work in suicide prevention.

Maybe you should have watched the programme first before deciding to come on here making silly comments!

Neeson

technocrat wrote: »

No he wasn't.

I like most people found him a great inspiration that's did lots of work in suicide prevention.

Maybe you should have watched the programme first before deciding to come on here making silly comments!

Sorry. I just thought the stuff his was saying before he died was a bit inappropriate. Of course he wanted to live. He knew he was going to die. But sure people are suicidal for a reason. It's not like you wake up one day and say feck it I can't be bothered and will now kill myself soon. Would a series of events cause you to start thinking that way? Perhaps

Anyway I just thought it was naive of him to be on the Saturday night show saying there is so much for the suicidal to live for. Imagine a man wants to die. He knows his family will be distraught if he does it. But he doesn't care. Life is so bad no matter what anyone says he won't listen. Family say they love him. He thinks he's worthless. And so on. I suppose it could help one or two people though. And as they say if it did that then it would be worth it.

I know the young fella means good but it just didn't sit right. I don't think they turn around and go ah sure Donal said living would be a great thing so I'll give it a go and see.

That's the way I look at it.


Anyway. The documentary may be good other than that. I shall seek it out on the player. Thanks.

SimonQuinlank

I don't blame the kid.I blame the media (RTE in particular) who obviously saw an easy sob story and ratings winner and took full advantage by giving Donal carte blanche to air his (understandably given his age) naive thoughts on the subject,no matter how hurtful they could be to families of people who had took their own lives,or belittling to those suffering from depression who were or had contemplated suicide.

efb

As a person who battles depression I found nothing wrong with Donal's message.

expectationlost

good blog post by James Cussen http://jamescsn.tumblr.com/post/71915817983/our-very-own-child-of-prague

expectationlost

270,000 watch Donal http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/270000-watch-donal-29887282.html

efb

I find a lot of posters here like to legitimise suicide and I think that is fat more dangerous. I have lost friends and family to suicide and have has suicidal ideation so I think I'm able to form this opinion without accused of 'not understanding' some young people saw suicide as a good thing as their dead friends were now being celebrated on Facebook. We need to spend more time being aware of the needs of the living, that idolising the dead. People can remember people who have died but creating a huge tribute and celebrity about them is dangerous IMO

The Black Oil

I think part of his message was a bit problematic because it seemed simplistic, and was essentially welcomed by everyone from Minister Kathleen Walsh down without proper scrutiny. Every couple of months there are high profile suicides (or coverage of mental health stories) that generate a lot of media attention, but proper messaging, as per Conor Cuscak's approach, for example, is essential.

Another write up that's worth a read. http://ancailinrua.com/2014/01/03/donal-walsh-and-suicide-whats-missing-from-the-debate-and-where-do-we-go-from-here/

jenjenten

The Black Oil wrote: »

I think part of his message was a bit problematic because it seemed simplistic, and was essentially welcomed by everyone from Minister Kathleen Walsh down without proper scrutiny. Every couple of months there are high profile suicides (or coverage of mental health stories) that generate a lot of media attention, but proper messaging, as per Conor Cuscak's approach, for example, is essential.

Another write up that's worth a read. http://ancailinrua.com/2014/01/03/donal-walsh-and-suicide-whats-missing-from-the-debate-and-where-do-we-go-from-here/

donal was a young fella....he saw things in black and white, and did feel angry that he wanted to live while others wanted to die....all perfectly normal.

he was a young lad, probably never experienced depression or being suicidal....the message was heartfelt but naive.

suicide and the why of it is vastly more complicated

expectationlost

efb wrote: »

I find a lot of posters here like to legitimise suicide and I think that is fat more dangerous. I have lost friends and family to suicide and have has suicidal ideation so I think I'm able to form this opinion without accused of 'not understanding' some young people saw suicide as a good thing as their dead friends were now being celebrated on Facebook. We need to spend more time being aware of the needs of the living, that idolising the dead. People can remember people who have died but creating a huge tribute and celebrity about them is dangerous IMO

just because other people may have been simplifying suicide doesn't meant we should indulge in it too.
in what was it seen as a good thing to them?

expectationlost

efb wrote: »

I find a lot of posters here like to legitimise suicide and I think that is fat more dangerous. I have lost friends and family to suicide and have has suicidal ideation so I think I'm able to form this opinion without accused of 'not understanding' some young people saw suicide as a good thing as their dead friends were now being celebrated on Facebook. We need to spend more time being aware of the needs of the living, that idolising the dead. People can remember people who have died but creating a huge tribute and celebrity about them is dangerous IMO

the messages on this thread that concern you aren't being broadcast and rebroadcast nationally and being made into a media campaign by the HSE.

RabbleRouser2k

I think the discussion and almost promotion to saintliness of Donal Walsh by the media is just something that I find a tad disheartening and worrying. The media have promoted this guy up to sainthood, without discussing the why's and how's of this disease. And his message is doing far more damage than good.
Nobody wants to suffer from mental illness, which will not only affect the individual, but also their families, and for some time before too. It's not a choice, and help for correct treatment is not often available. The media themselves seemed to approach it with a sort of 'Don't kill yourself' mentality rather than a 'Why do you want to kill yourself?' introspective quest to understand the person. And the illness itself can be exacerbated by the one's environment or any problems the person may be going through.
A few months before Donal's passing, there was a Late Late show episode about Mental health, focusing on Men in particular, and to be honest it was infuriating more than anything else. The psychiatrist or psychologist on it was of the 'men don't ask for help' variety and 'women have to do it all for them, so if your man is down, make the psych appointment for him'. Well this was frustrating because it focused entirely on men, ignoring women in the same problem, and also, when she said men don't ask for help, the sad thing is that they do, they just do so in a different way to women. That they are not heard is a question we need to be asking, as well as why the rates of suicides are increasing amongst women.
A few months after Donal Walsh's death, when people seemed to have tricked themselves into thinking that Ireland's suicide problem was over, a very prominent sports player took his own life. There is no doubt in my mind that his death was tragic, yet instead of asking questions as to why this happened, he was practically glossed over. We should have stopped to ask the important question as to why he took this drastic decision, and how people can get to such depths of despair that they think this is the only option. More focus should have been placed on the loss of this young life by his own hand, putting out the message that sometimes we all need help, and don't be afraid to talk to others'...but no, it did not happen. And that is a missed opportunity to prevent another person from seeing that as a viable alternative to their own problems.

cathalio11

I have a lot of respect for Dónal Walsh but I must say I agree with the above's summing up of the media.

Have always had a huge distaste for the media. They certainly did not help the economic crisis.