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24th Oct 2018

WATCH: Irishman releases extremely powerful video about his battle with mental health

Rudi Kinsella

The topics discussed in these videos are of a sensitive nature, and may be distressing to some viewers.

Adam Ó Brien is a young Irish man who has autism.

As he puts it himself, he has a “so-called disability” called Asperger Syndrome.

Adam posted a powerful video online which tells the story of his life, and the battles that he has dealt with along the way.

He was bullied in school, by teachers and students. He was told he would amount to nothing, and was homeschooled as a result. He went on to complete his Leaving Cert, and successfully graduate from a Post Leaving Certificate course in business.

One morning, Adam’s world would change forever, when his brother Eoin took his own life. He tells the story of that morning: “I was lying in bed at about five in the morning. I heard the screams from my mum. At first I thought it was just Eoin having a seizure, because he had epilepsy.

“So my mum started screaming, I came out to see if everything was okay. She told me to go into her bedroom. I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what was wrong because I was used to Eoin just having seizures.

“Really she was protecting me to hide me from the truth of my brother being dead, and having hung himself.”

You can watch Adam’s incredibly brave story in full below:

https://twitter.com/Adamobrien29/status/1055128198558691329

https://twitter.com/Adamobrien29/status/1055128352233791490

Adam posted these videos online in an attempt to raise awareness, and to keep the conversation about mental health going.

But that’s not the only bit of good that Adam is doing. He is also hosting an event in Whelans to commemorate his brother’s life.

A Night For Eoin is taking place on Sunday 4 November, and will feature live music, magicians, and loads of other forms of entertainment.

Tickets are only €12.50 and all funds raised from this gig with go to Pieta House.

More information on this event can be found here.

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