In loving memory
A few weeks ago a dear friend to me and many others, Ajay, died from suicide less than three years after being diagnosed and beginning treatment for bipolar disorder.
I knew him as an off-beat renaissance man - somehow both an artist and a critic; a trickster and a stoic; a deep feeler and a deep thinker. Every conversation, essay, email exchange was coloured by a deeply compassionate desire to improve human well being. He celebrated the power of human ingenuity in alleviating suffering. He put 200% into living a rich and kind life with all odds stacked against him. This burden is impossible to sustain, but there is a world where, with the right treatment and understanding, this doesn't have to be the case.
It seems fitting to try to make a positive impact on well-being and scientific progress on his behalf. Black Dog Institute works on the scientific foundations and practical services needed to achieve improved mental health outcomes. From all he's taught me, there is still so much progress to be made in this space.
Please join me in paying it forward on behalf of Ajay or anyone in your life who springs to mind.
Note - we will refrain from sharing this on broader social media to protect the family's privacy.
Love,
Marlene
---
Writing from Ajay in 2017 (shared by Mathu):
"Star gazing can at times be a lonesome activity, the enormity of what is above has the ability to make you feel so insignificant so quickly. Yet there is constant comfort in the night sky: in the immensely improbable circumstances that puts us within eyes reach, the infinite scale and beauty and this simple fact:
You never are alone when looking at the stars, there are thousands of people watching with you.
The stars reflect a universe that is amazingly
intricate, nonsensical and always marvelous.
...
‘I had a conversation with a star in a restroom. He was charming, funny and um, rather bright.’
[Insert a picture of a star with sunglasses]"
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Miss you mate. I wish I was a better friend who was there for you when you needed me.
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Hi - my biggest condolences. I’m not sure that there are words for me to say, that will change how things feel - but I’ve personally had to deal with the possibility of losing a dear friend to suicide, and the immense pain, fear and sadness are overcoming. I hope more than anything, that you are kind to yourselves, and can support each other through this loss.
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