Post by Matthew Hawkes

On December 2nd, I was diagnosed with depression. This is the first time I’ve gone public about it. It was one of the most heart-sinking moments of my life. I knew I was clinically depressed for ages but I thought I could get through it. Multiple factors have contributed to the situation. Including grief, failing my end of year exam, being let down by people I trusted. I have been taking antidepressants daily ever since. Fortunately, I have a very supportive family and friendgroup who are helping me in the right direction. I know I will get better. Although I’m not/wasn’t experiencing suicidal thoughts, it’s impossible to talk about depression without acknowledging suicide remains a major global issue. Sadly, around one person dies from suicide every 40 seconds worldwide, potentially due to severe depression, trauma, loss, hopelessness etc. If you’re feeling depressed or overwhelmed: - Don’t isolate. Speak to someone you trust. - Seek professional help e.g GP or therapist. - Take thoughts of self-harm seriously. If you ever feel unsafe, reach out for immediate support. Asking for help is not failure, it’s strength. I shared this openly because mental health struggles are serious, and silence rarely helps. I don’t have all of the answers, but recovery is possible with the right support, structure and time. 2 weeks ago I made a post about what I learnt in 2025. Definitely check it out. One of the points was: “don’t be afraid to try something new” Here we are in 2026. I’m trying something new. Going forward, I will document my journey on my recovery from depression. What I’m doing to improve my life. And using my medicine and research capabilites to improve my life across health, discipline and long-term wellbeing. I will be posting content with the aim to support you with improving your life. Whether that’s regarding medicine, medicine applications, your physical, social, mental state, finance, there will be something for you. I will be sharing my journey, pushing the limits of what I can achieve, and to guide others to do the same. Follow @hawksylife on Instagram. And if you have suggestions for topics you’d like me to explore, I’m always open to hear them. I will be posting very soon. If this resonates, please feel free to share. Edit: Thank you for the supportive comments everyone, I hope to continue supporting you :)