Josh Quigley, the Tartan Explorer was the main attraction at this morning’s Breakfast Event, kindly hosted by Edinburgh’s Apex Waterloo Place Hotel.  Josh (24), an award winning young entrepreneur, survived a suicide attempt in 2015 and is now dedicating his time to a Cycle the World Expedition raising awareness of suicide prevention and mental health issues.

Whilst many of this year’s Chamber events will focus on business growth and networking, other events will focus on the equally important people dimension.  Attendees were riveted by Josh’s candid account of his ongoing battle with depression and the positive approach he takes to tackling it each day.

Some of the stand-outs quotes from Josh were: “How you respond to your depression is more important than how you got it”; “If you don’t enjoy it – change it”; “Give yourself positive affirmations – I feel brilliant today and I look amazing – you can trick your brain into believing these.”

Chamber Members, AM Bid Services and Cyrenians sponsored Josh’s involvement with today’s event.  Andrew Morrison, Managing Director of AM Bid Services said: “Our team are highly energised by being involved in sponsoring Josh’s Expedition.  Hearing today that 8 people have directly credited Josh with saving their lives speaks volumes about the importance of his work.”

Ian Grimwade, Head of Business Development at Cyrenians agreed: “Josh’s own journey – physical, spiritual and mental – is transformational not just for his own life, but for so many others who have been inspired and saved by his actions. We fully support Josh’s push for a more open discussion on suicide prevention and issues related to mental health, and a vision of an inclusive society in which we all have the opportunities to live valued and fulfilled lives.”

Liz McAreavey, Chamber Chief Executive said ‘What a wonderful inspirational speaker!  Josh gave us a positive – yet stark – reality check at our first chamber event of 2017.  Action and choices are under our own control.  We look forward to listening to the next update from Josh when he is back in Edinburgh.’

Donations to help Josh continue with the Cycle the World Expedition and his important work raising awareness of suicide prevention and mental health issues can be made at: http://tartanexplorer.com/