You’re not alone: How Mark found his way back from the edge

Mark was at his lowest ebb more than a decade ago. Struggling with a recent MS diagnosis and caring for his mother, who had cancer, Mark says everything was getting too much until three simple words changed everything. 

“I found myself on the local bluff ready to jump, I looked over the edge and thought I was finished. But for some reason, I took a photo of the sun coming up, looked at it for a millisecond and thought ‘things aren’t that bad,” he recalls.

“When I got home, I was in a mess again. I remember MS Plus’ In Touch magazine was on the floor, it was open and it said, ‘if you need help, call now.’ So, I called for the first time and there were three warm, caring words at the other end: ‘are you okay’?”

Although MS Plus is not a suicide support service, our Connect staff are there to listen, provide practical support and help people access the right services and information to live well with MS.

Mark says that first encounter, with MS Plus’ Connect phone line, saved his life.

“I unloaded everything and the lady said, ‘I’m going to talk you through this, you’re going to be okay.’ They provided all the information, direction and positives to keep going. I decided then that when I got better, I wanted to give back to other people in my position.”

These days, Mark works as a Peer Support Volunteer, speaking to people with MS as well as their families and carers from across the country.

“To be able to talk to people, offer them some answers, make them feel better and tell them we’re all in this together is so powerful. I don’t have a clue what the people I speak to look like; you just hear their voice and try to offer them support.”

Mark’s connection with MS Plus has also helped him explore his lifelong interest in photography, after he was awarded an MS Plus Go for Gold Scholarship. Go for Gold Scholarships are one-off grants that support people living with MS to follow their personal goals, passions or dreams.

“I’ve always enjoyed taking photos, but all I had was a little old digital camera and an old phone. A few people suggested I apply for a Go for Gold scholarship, I was successful and it allowed me to buy my first DLSR camera. 

“I watched a lot of YouTube videos to learn more about techniques and settings, I wrote everything down in a journal and I went out every day and practiced,” he says.

“I do everything from nature photography to landscape, portraits and even wedding photography. When I post them on Facebook or Instagram and get comments where my work has brought back a memory for someone, I just feel invincible. It’s such a good feeling.”

“It’s completely changed my life because I’m not far from the ocean and some mornings, I just look down through the lens at the sun rising up above it and it just grounds me.”

More than a decade after that first phone call, Mark highly recommends others reach out for support. 

“Whether it’s a little worry in your mind or something more, there’s always a person at the other end to tell you you’re going to be okay. Over the course of a phone call you hear someone go from worry and distress to starting to slow down, speak more calmly and by the end they normally say ‘thanks, that was just what I needed.’

“There’s a whole network of us at MS Plus and help is always only a phone call away if you need it.”

If this story brings up difficult feelings, you’re not alone and support is available.

• MS Plus Connect – Speak with someone who understands MS 1800 042 138
• Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
• Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
• Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 

If you are in immediate danger, please call 000.

Reaching out can feel hard, but there is always someone ready to listen.