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Damo

By Darren McIntosh Join Me

Help me make it meaningful

Mental illness doesn’t discriminate – it affects 1 in 5 Australians every year with symptoms like depression and anxiety. The impact can be devastating, not only for those living with it, but for those around them.

That’s why I’m hosting my very own event, to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute. Every dollar raised will support crucial mental health research and support services that help Australians impacted by mental illness and suicide.

Help me create a meaningful moment for mental health, all for a great cause.

Please donate now. Thank you.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$2,384

My Goal

$10,000

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My Achievements

My Updates

First server anxiety attack

Wednesday 5th Jul
I remember this like it was yesterday.
Age 19, I was an apprentice to a graphics reproduction company in Surry Hills. Being the apprentice and youngest in my department I was often bullied and teased daily. I looked very different to all my co works and saw the world in a different to most of them. This made me a target for daily picking on. I developed a dislike for work and often was anxious every morning as I made the journey too work. Back then no one talked about mental health, I often felt very isolated and alone. I started using alcohol and drugs to cope and large doses of caffeine. All these combine was a recipe for disaster. Weeks leading up to this particular day my body felt like a nervous tornado, nothing I did would calm me. It was a Thursday afternoon and id planned on going record shopping after work. I left work and walked to central train station to catch a train to town hall. As I stood on the platform out of no where I felt a massive rush of adrenalin wash over me. I leant back against the wall, that's all I can remember. I had completely blacked out and when I came around i was sitting on the ground up against the wall. My biggest concern was that I'd hopped no one had noticed. 
No one did, I collectd myself stood up and went home. As a young man I felt weak and helpless, had no one to confine in and chose to keep it to myself. Over the years I've experienced many more moments like this.

Anxiety at 13.

Monday 17th Apr
My recollection of experiencing anxiety came at a very young age, but the one experience that stood out the most was this one. I struggled to fit at school amongst my peers. I drifted between the jocks, nerds, punks and surfers but always feeling like the misfit. Most of my report cards read, “Darren could achieve more if he was more focused and less disruptive.” I often tried hard to impress those around me to gain their approval. This one evening on our way to a blue light disco a mate and I acquired a 750ml bottle of vodka. I’d never drank before this evening. We sat in a dark alley way drinking it straight having no idea how much we could drink safely. I drank 3/4 of the bottle with no idea what was to come once it was gone. We made our way to the disco, I only made it to the stairs of the front door and don’t remember a thing after that. I was lucky the event was being run by the police. I became violently ill and was driven to Gosford hospital in the back of a paddy wagon. My next recollection was waking in the hospital with tubes protruding from my nose - I’d had my stomach pumped. There I laid looking up at my parents in shame and immense guilt. It was a moment in my life that I wasn’t proud of, but it was also a turning point for me as a child. I recognised the path a few of my close friends where walking and it was one I didn’t want to walk. A few of those kids didn’t live to see their 30th birthdays.

Why

Sunday 9th Apr
I attended the funeral of a close mate at the age of 18, he lost his battle to mental health in complete silence. Since then I've attended 3 more funerals in the same manner, the last one was 3 months ago. I'm hoping that my artworks and this very blog will enable others to seek the support and help they need, or to inspire more to speak up about their experiences and how they have overcome them. Mental health needs to be at the forefront of every society, allowing our children to feel safe about expressing their own emotions rather than bottling them up until it's too late. Later on I will share my own stories on my struggels with anxiety and depression. 

Who am I

Friday 24th Mar
Born in Muswellbrook in 1971 moved to Narara on the central coast of NSW at the age of 1. I have lived on the central coast my whole life. Finished high school and entered the arts industry studying graphic reproduction. After completing my trade I bought a one way ticket to Egypt. I spent the next 11 months bumming through the middle East, Eastern Europe, Western Europe and India. Returning home in 1996 I entered the publishing game working as a graphic artist for the next 7 years. During that time I married and we had a daughter who is now 19 and studying zoology at Armidale uni.
I left publishing and entered the advertising world and stayed in that game for 10 years before I'd decided it was no longer for me. My wife and I seperated when our daughter was 8, we managed to part on good terms even tho it was a difficult time. When I look back at the time together we managed to achieve a lot as a couple. Both had successful careers, bought and sold homes together and my wife ran and owned a successful independent bookshop. 
I currently live by the sea and have the dream job working for national parks for the last 10 years. Art is and has been part of me my entire life, painting is something new to me but it brings emence joy seeing things slowly come to life before you.
Life has been good to me but I've had times in my life also that have been incredibly challenging. Over the next 9 months I'll touch on my own personal challenges and struggles. I'll talk openly and freely hoping this will encourage others to do the same.

Be the change against mental health

Wednesday 22nd Mar
Damo was my cousin, he was an artist, musician, skateboarder and a all time beautiful man. He was a quite man, but well liked many people. Damo had many talents but he never boasted about any of them. One of his greatest was skateboarding. One of my fondest memories was seeing him fearlessly launch of a flight of stairs at the ripe age of 13 and elegantly slide down a hand rail.
Nothing held him back when it came to skating. It was known that he struggled with his mental health, but never did I think he would take his own life. Over the course of 9 months i will be producing artwork in his memory and in the support of such a crippling disease. I hope to raise money but also break the stigma around this giving others the courage to seek help and support. The works i create will go up for auction or outright purchase. If you don't feel like purchasing maybe you would like to just donate. Please share, follow and enjoy the content I create this next 9 months.

Thank you to my Sponsors

$100

Colleen Johnson

Thank you Darren for everything you have done to support the reason Damo is no longer here.

$42.20

Darren Mcintosh

Weapons of mass destruction. Kelly

$47.48

Mrs Mia Wallace

Your artworks and your mission inspire me and make the world a better place.

$52.75

Julie Hawkins

Awesome exhibition! Congratulations Max on your work and kind heart!

$84.40

Anonymous

$84.40

Wendy Mcintosh Reefer

$42.20

Anonymous

$105.50

Bee & Matt

Well done, Maxy!

$52.75

Stacey Miller

Great work Darren. So proud of you. Xx

$42.20

Vanessa Brown

Vanessa brown freak

$21.10

Marni Dickson

$42.20

Louise Gledden

You’re doing wonderful work Max Dancing barefoot

$263.75

Link & Pin

$131.88

Fiona Coorey

Fiona - Stand Tall Never Small

$52.75

Dawa Smith

"Sinead" - Dig For Damo 2024

$100

Olivia Sharkey

$131.88

Dawa

$52.75

Spenser Zalkin

$50

Tanya Edmonds

thx maxibon x

$50

Mali P

Thanks so much

$78.75

Colin Whitbread

Contribution is from Men's Circle. You were present. Love you brother.

$131.25

Anonymous

$104

Louise Gledden

Love your work man

$136.50

Jane & Kevin Ure

$20

Tina A.wake

Every little bit helps Tina A.Wake xxx

$130

Matt & Tash

$52.50

Francine Scullin (damien's Mum)

When I opened this my heart just melted and of course threw me. Dame will never leave me also being my only son, there is not a day go by that I never think of him.

$52.50

Anonymous

Such a great cause Razzle Dazzle

$50

Mandi

Good on you for working for such a great cause. Damo was such a lovely guy x

$26.25

V

Looking forward to following your journey. Great cause.

$52.50

Darren Mcintosh