When you get back from holiday the first blessing of 21st century life is clearly the washing machine. All the bog encrusted vestments are piled in, go round and round and come out again with a lot less bog. The dirty water has gone done the drain and the washing is drying in a satisfying way.

It was a good image to recall yesterday when I was hearing the story of a young man I know. It was like he’d been in washing machine but not in a good way. Round and round and round he’d been buffeted for about six months in all the filthy water and finally he’d been spat out somewhat bedraggled to make of the experience whatever he could.

I listened like they teach you in mental health first aid and I asked the questions about suicide when he mentioned he’d thought about it. I was grateful once again for the training. A conversation may not sound very difficult but most people worry that they may make things worse not better. So it’s good to be able to give reassurance and information in a positive and life affirming way. Of the things I have done in the last two years I really recommend the mental health first aid training. It affirmed me, set me on my feet with firmer steps, opened my ears and my mouth in that order and helped me make sense of some of my own experiences too.

I am also a qualified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor if you’re interested . Contact me on Twitter @silcoateschapel.