An dad who has been struggling to find work and tweeted to say he was ‘feeling at rock bottom’ has been inundated with support from around the world.
Edmund O’Leary, 51, reached out for help on social media because he was ‘not ok’ and received a staggering 100,000 responses and 300,000 likes.
His tweet asked: ‘Please take a few seconds to say hello if you see this tweet. Thank you.’ People responded in their droves by sharing mental health tips and images which make them feel better.
Comments ranged from people local to Edmund in Surrey inviting him out for coffee to recruitment experts offering advice on his CV.
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The former mental health worker has suffered a series of setbacks due to the pandemic.
He told the Sunday Times this year has been ‘absolutely horrendous’ and his mental health had ‘really taken a battering.’
He said: ‘I live on my own, I’m divorced, I don’t have much family support.’
Speaking later to ITV, Edmund said: ‘Suffering with depression during normal times is one thing. But to end up suffering with depression during a global pandemic, where there is little good news, is devastating.’
Edmund hoped to watch his twin son Patrick, 22, graduate with a first-class degree, and take his other son, Connor, to Dublin to start a PhD – but neither happened because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He’s also been applying for ‘job after job’ but has so far been unsuccessful in finding work.
One of those to tweet back was Dublin Airport’s official social media account. They said: ‘Hi Edmund, you are not alone. So many people are feeling exactly that way at the minute. Never forget that you are loved & there are people who care about you.
‘We see you like 747s; here’s one just for you, along with a picture of dawn in Dublin. Sending you hugs from back home.’
There were also dozens of pictures of smiling children, dramatic sunsets and a fair few pets doing silly things.
The journalist Fergal Keane, who has written about his own struggles with mental health after covering war-zones for the BBC, tweeted: ‘Hello Edmund from London. Morning always comes.’ He also shared a clip of himself reading one of his favourite poems.
Author and mental health campaigner Matt Haig commented: ‘Hi Edmund. Sending love. Remember, the bottom of the valley never has the clearest view.
‘You will not always feel like this. You will one day feel a lot better and look back and see the distance you made. X.’
Fox News reporter, Jennifer Holton, from Florida sent a picture of her attempt at baking an Easter cake.
She said: ‘I admire your bravery for just speaking up and being so open. Not many can.
‘Here’s a photo of my attempted ‘lamb cake’ (from) a few Easters ago. If anything, I hope it makes you laugh. Much love.’
Edmund said the response had been ‘phenomenal’ and ‘an outpouring of love and support across the world’.
He told The Sunday Times: ‘Most days are really rubbish, and yesterday (Friday) was another day I was feeling really low. I thought: I’m going to be honest.
‘I am shocked at the degree of the response. It has been phenomenal … It was just crazy. If I were to respond to every single tweet, I’m not joking, I’d need to employ staff.’
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