Matthew Taylor

Matthew smiling in the park

Today I’m celebrating my last ever day of classes at uni, after trying to take my own life less than a year & a 1/2 ago.

I’m now just 3 essays away from a graduation I never thought I’d live to see & beginning the hunt for a job in mental health policy/charity or politics sector.

I would miss you dearly. I look up to you so much and have loved spending time any time with you that I have to date. I’ve been there and know how shitty your brain and other people can be. I’m here if you need anything- you’re so awesome and amazing and talented and I and so many others need you.

Matthew’s student card

After more than a year and a half out of university, including several months in a psych ward, I’m here at my first day back at @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social to finally finish the last semester of my undergrad in Anthropology & Philosophy!

Flowers made out of pages of books

Feeling so immeasurably lucky & grateful to have met my amazing, goofy & kind girlfriend & to celebrate with her this Christmas.

I feel so seen & cherished for myself as a person, not just for what I can do.

I’m happy.

I’m so glad my suicide attempt failed & I kept fighting.

Sorry Dermot 😭🫣

Matthew and Leia

Top of the list on things I’d have missed out on if my attempt had succeeded. Feeling so grateful and at peace. 💛

I was discharged from the psych ward a year and week ago today. Last year I spent most of my days lying in bed. Today I finished a 2500 word university essay and finished a book last night.

It gets better. I promise.

Please stay.

Today it’s been announced that Jamie Bryson has been appointed to Donald Trump’s cabinet as minister for blue bins.

Someone should nab Jim Allister’s as well

I was discharged from the psych ward a year and week ago today. Last year I spent most of my days lying in bed. Today I finished a 2500 word university essay and finished a book last night.

It gets better. I promise.

Please stay.

Matthew first 10k run

In what to me is an absolutely MASSIVE achievement, I ran my first ever 10k today!

Obviously, and donate the money to a mental health charity that apparently the institution can’t find adequately themselves….

I apologise to everyone who thinks this is the real NI Assembly account.

I completely forgot I made it until I signed back in this evening…

Matthew in a suit smiling with a New York skyline background

I’m back on here!

Had an amazing time in New York recently, presenting my policy paper on SEN children and young people in Northern Ireland.

Anyone still here?

Me finally back home permanently!

98 days.
14 weeks.
Over 3 months.

Yesterday afternoon, I was finally discharged from the psych ward & returned home permanently.

OYW speech

OYW Speech

Today I represented my country and spoke in front of an audience of over 2200 people at the One Young World conference about my experience of mental health & attempted suicide.

I was immensely grateful to receive a standing ovation for my short contribution.

I can’t remember a day since I was 10 where I wasn’t disappointed that I woke up. I feel like I’m already dead.

Yeah I just keep getting the same message every time.

I appeal and immediately get a new message within 10 secs saying the exact same thing. No way that it’s been read by a real person. You think with Musk having taken over there’s a possibility that appeals just will never be accepted?

You think they eventually give in?

I have appealed Twitter’s decision and have received a permanent suspension of my account. I have been banned from the platform for talking about suicide.

Thank you so much Bronagh. This place seems so much kinder. I have to say. I’m just waiting for the mass adoption, then I’m never looking back.

I’m so incredibly grateful to you Mark. Thank you. Hopefully this shambles is sorted out soon.

If anyone who still uses Elon’s hellscape could bring it to the attention of X Support that they just suspended the Co-Founder of a mental health charity for talking about mental health, that would be great.

Twitter appeal

My account has been suspended for commenting under a YoungMinds tweet about the best advice I received about mental health being ‘if nothing matters, you can always kill yourself tomorrow’. Twitter is a cesspit, but I’m honestly heartbroken. It was my one outlet while in hospital. I feel so alone.

NI Assembly looking disappointed at the camera

My family when they see my Granda and I arguing about politics at the dinner table again.

Quality Street!

I was able to leave the ward to walk to the shop for the first time today!

While an incredibly agitating & scary experience, surrounded by constant temptations to run & harm myself, I still managed to keep myself safe momentarily- & I’ve a box of quality street for my troubles!

Wishing you the best!

Still waiting on assessment myself, but the medical staff say the result is a foregone conclusion at this point…