Copyright dailypost
A councillor has urged people to "just pick up the phone" to family and friends in the wake of the tragic death of Ricky Hatton. Tremeirchion councillor Chris Evans, a mental health advocate, is urging anyone struggling with their mental health to seek help and encouraging friends and loved ones to check on their nearest and dearest. Cllr Evans, 49, a dad-of-four has spoken openly about his own struggles with mental ill-health which led him to attempt to take his own life in November 2022. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone The former weightlifter, who is now a mental health first-aider, was a huge fan of the champion boxer who was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester last month. Cllr Evans said: “I watched him grow and always thought he was quite a grounded boxer. He hadn’t gone above his station. He liked sitting in the pub with his mates and having a beer. He hadn’t forgotten his roots. “I followed his battles, like my own, with mental health. I could see some of the stuff he was doing when he was off-season with boxing. “This is all to do with mental wellbeing. I could see there were things there that echoed in my own life. He was open and honest about his mental health and how he struggled. These sports stars do struggle. People think it is a brilliant life. I wouldn’t like it, everybody knowing everything about you.” People need to understand that money and fame won't stop mental ill-health, just like they don't prevent any other illness, cllr Evans said. The cause of Ricky Hatton's death will be determined at a full inquest in March next year but a coroner indicated he was found hanging. Cllr Evans reflected on the death of a close friend in similarly tragic circumstances. He explained: " I went to his funeral. I was very apprehensive. After the funeral, his friends were saying, ‘Why didn’t he just pick up the phone?’ “Ricky had a lot going for him, the gym, his son, what people thought of him. But there needs to be better understanding and better help. If you have friends, and you’ve not heard from them or not seen them and you are talking to them and noticing they are different, it is nothing to say, ‘How are you doing? Are you OK?’ Actually sit down and say, ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’” He added: “It is checking in on each other and understanding if we’ve got issues, we need to talk about them, not bottle it up. "If you are suffering, phone Mind; phone the Samaritans. That is what they are there for. Talk to a mental health first-aider. Check in on your mates, and if you don’t feel 100%, go and talk to someone.”
