From Numbness to Purpose: Daragh Fleming’s Journey Through Loss, Mental Health, and Healing Through Words

Another powerful and open conversation this week with my guest Daragh Fleming from Cork in Ireland. Daragh lost his best friend through suicide at the age of 17 and he shares how he got lost in himself, not being able to feel any emotion. He started to heal through writing and connected back to his vulnerability and truth. In doing so, he wrote his first book - Lonely Boy which in turn would help him to connect to others and become an advocate for breaking the stigma of mental health.Daragh has gone onto to write another book - A Brief Inhalation which is available to pre-order from the 31st March and is being launched in Waterstones in Cork on the 15th April. Pre-Order his book here: https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/daragh-fleming-a-brief-inhalationDaragh has been recognised for his work appearing in several literary magazines including Southword, Crannog, Stand and Gutter. He was highly commended for both the Patrick Kavanagh Award and the Fool for Poetry Prize in 2023 and shortlisted for the Alpine Fellowship Poetry Prize in 2024. He won the From The Well Competition in 2021 and the Ducairn Flash Competition in 2024. Daragh was also recently shortlisted for two Mental Health Media Awards for his TEDx Talk on using Creativity to enhance and maintain our mental health. Check his website for more information https://www.Thoughtstoobig.ieWatch his Tedx Talk https://youtu.be/1G91FndfqvI?si=bWk1Q4mkC1dhAdynFollow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daraghfleming/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daragh-fleming/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaraghFlemTo connect to Sharon or find out more about her work please go to her website https://www.sharonfitzmauricemindfulness.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sharonfitzmaurice.substack.com