A Wirral-based dad is helping others with their mental health after his hit an “all-time low”.
Craig Anderson, from Oldham but living in New Brighton, is giving away free copies of his latest album, Save My Life, to raise awareness around men’s mental health. The album features songs which explore the topic of grief following the death of a close friend.
The 34-year-old found himself feeling depressed this time last year after he lost his good friend, Steve Murphy. Craig, a dad-of-two met Steve, a 61-year-old from Heswall, through a grassroots football team and the two bonded over their love of the sport. When Steve died last February from health complications, Craig struggled to live life as normal.
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The musician, who goes by the name UK Craigie, told the ECHO: “It was a terrible time, to be honest for me. It was like losing one of the strongest parts of your support network as someone who was always there, always believed in me and always had my back.
“He was the kind of person who you would speak to and would make you feel like you could take on an army or run for Prime Minister within a month. He was just somebody who could really inspire belief within anyone. He was a kind man, full of encouragement and life.
"A brilliant, selfless and caring man. The pain of losing him hurts immensely, I can only hope to pass on so many of the life lessons he taught me over the years I was blessed to know him."
Craig explained how Steve died suddenly – having been “fine” on the Friday and dead by the Sunday.
He said: “It rocked me completely, my entire world, everything really. I started to find myself quite anxious and depressed. It took months and months to recover but for me, music has always been a crutch, especially this last year. It has helped me document things and use it as a diary.
“I just basically poured my entire soul into music to build myself back up to where I was before I lost one of the biggest parts of my life. I wanted to carry on through the emotions to make Steve proud.”
Craig’s fifth album, Save My Life, which was written after Steve’s death, is available for free for fans to help those seeking solace through times of adversity.
He said: “I owe Steve so much, he pushed me to believe in myself and chase everything I wanted with conviction. I dedicate this album to him, to the values he embodied and everything he stood for. I hope my pain and grief can help bring comfort to people who can relate to the experiences I share.
"This album is a personal journey and its purpose is to help myself and my audience try to find comfort whilst grieving. It’s about trying to rebuild whilst suffering poor mental health and coming to terms with the loss of somebody close to you.
“I write from the heart about real feelings and experiences. I think people connect and relate to that and for me, that’s where the true magic lies. This is why I am offering the album to people for free — I just want to reach and help as many people as possible through my music. No ego, no attitude, just honest music from an honest guy."
Mind (0300 123 3393) is a charity providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
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