Ep 77: Mark Williams on Post Natal Depression For Men, Mental Illness & His Decision to Quit Alcohol

Fathers Reaching Out Founder Mark Williams on His Struggles With Alcohol; Mental Illness, and Much More. Welcome to Episode # 77 of The Alcohol & Addiction Podcast the show designed to help you reduce the leverage that alcohol has in your life and your relationships. When I was ten, I moved from England to Wales. I hated it. I was so different to everyone. I belonged to a tribe of one. Then one day this lad asked me to join his football team. His name was Mark Williams. When we got older and left school, I would see Mark in the local market selling cable. He was always infectious and had this great positive aura surrounding him. But he was dying inside. Mark's wife, Michelle, had given birth to a son called Ethan. Michelle suffered from post-natal depression, and that put a lot of pressure on Mark to try and bring the money in, be a good Dad, and learn how to support his wife. Mark would also suffer from postnatal depression, and when he looked for help, it was absent. In desperation, Mark started a blog called Fathers Reaching Out where he talked openly about his struggles with post-natal depression. It took off in a big way. Today, Mark travels all over the world talking about post-natal depression and mental illness with fathers. Every time I turn on the TV or radio, Mark is on there talking about saving people's lives. In 2012, he won the Father of the Year and Wales Local Hero awards at the Pride of Britain awards. He has met the Royal Family, visited the Houses of Parliament, and now he speaks to the Needy Helper. Why? Mark has reached a turning point in his life. He knows alcohol is hurting his ability to become the very best version of himself and he wants to change that. In this podcast, we talk about his decision to quit alcohol and also talk to his wife, Michelle about the impact his drinking has on their relationship. We also speak of the problems that 200,000 single fathers in the UK face every day, including their battles with mental illness; the importance of meaning & purpose, and of course, post-natal depression with men. Podcast Takeaways Fathers Reaching Out Website - http://www.reachingoutpmh.co.uk/about-us Fathers Reaching Out Twitter - https://twitter.com/MarkWilliamsROW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Fathers Reaching Out Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fathersreaching/ Outro Thanks for listening. If you want to help support the Alcohol & Addiction Podcast; keep it free of sponsors and adverts, and to help me focus on helping people reduce the leverage alcohol has on their lives on a full-time basis, then please join the Needy Helper Hub Movement. You can find details at http://www.needyhelper.com. If you find the AA Podcast a valuable resource, then please subscribe on iTunes, tell your friends about it and share the love. You would make me a very happy man indeed if you could rate us on iTunes.