Harrogate dad hoping son's story will encourage people to speak about their mental health
Steve Phillip’s son, Jordan, died by suicide in December 2019. He was just 34-years-old
A dad from Harrogate is urging people to ask their loved ones how they are doing, and says he wished he’d done it more with his own son who took his own life.
Steve Phillip’s son, Jordan, was just 34 years old when he died by suicide. He had been struggling with his mental health for a number of years.
Jordan had been diagnosed clinically depressed in 2015 and had a number of episodes of depression over a several years.
He had a stable job, had lots of friends, a girlfriend and loving family.
But Steve has told Greatest Hits how "hindsight is a wonderful thing" and how he wished he'd asked his son more often how he was coping.
He said: "We knew he was struggling and that he'd been to the doctor but I just didn't understand. I look back at conversations that for me now would be signs.
"One day he said to me 'well at least I got out of bed and had a shower today' and we laughed and joked about it. I should've asked him why.
"He had a huge network of friends and he was a nice lad; moody teenager. But you kind of reflect back on that and wonder was he struggling even when he was a teen."
Now, Steve is sharing his son's story as part of Mental Health Awareness Week (10 to 16 May 2021) to encourage people to focus on achieving good mental health.
In the hours leading up to Jordan taking his own life, Steve was delivering a social media training workshop in Solihull which was three-hour drive home in heavy traffic.
The pair had suggested that they speak later that day, but after arriving the hotel room later that evening, they decided we’d catch up another time as it was late and Jordan was tired.
The following day Jordan died.
Steve received a call from Jordan's girlfriend, Charlotte, who found him. With the help of a neighbour, they smashed the front window of Jordan's house to get in.
He added: "Charlotte just kept saying 'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Jordan's killed himself'. That was the moment.
"The call was logged at about two minutes in duration. I think I remember the first 15 seconds. That's it.
"Knowing what I know now, without question I would've had more direct conversations about him and how he was doing.
"He would talk more openly with Charlotte about his mental health rather than myself and his mum. I think because he didn't want to burden us."
Following Jordan's death, Steve soon established The Jordan Legacy CIC, to provide support to those struggling with their mental health or considering suicide, whilst simultaneously accepting the position as Head of Mission, at Champion Health UK Ltd, a rapidly growing tech company in the world of workplace employee wellbeing strategies.
He hopes the group will help achieve a desired state where deaths by suicide are rare events, by implementing practical actions to make communities and workplaces mentally healthy and psychologically safe places, so when instances are highlighted intervention can happen immediately.
You can read more about The Jordan Legacy here.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with their mental health or contemplating suicide you can find out more information from the NHS here.