BoxRec

I think the article in Boxing News about depression will only highlight this even more. I'm absolutely stunned and screamed out "SH*T!!" when I saw it on Michael Sprott's facebook. I am so saddened by this; God bless, R.I.P.

Poor fella lucky enough to count him as a distant friend. Used to always ring me when people were giving him aggro on the forums.

A lovely man, so very sad. Life is so short people. I think most of us have being to dark places but you must remember the quality of your life is dependent on the quality of your thoughts.

Rip dean

RIP Dean.

Huge shock and will leave a great big hole in British boxing.

I only met him a handful of times over the years but he always remembered my name and had time for a little small talk.

Very, very sad. My thoughts are with his family and everyone else who knew him.

gutted about the news, dean was my 1st manager when I turned pro, a really top fella, would always drop me a text after every fight saying either well done or chin up and stick with it depending on my result, he only tweeted me 2 days ago saying how proud my dad would of been of me for doing so well, like I said dean was a really good fella and will be greatly missed, R.I.P dean

Just a small story which I hope isn't innappropriate.

I once wrote a piece for this site and in it I praised his corner work, just a couple of lines, nothing OTT.

He sought out my telephone number and rang me to thank me for what I said. Again just a quick thank you, nothing OTT.

I thought it was a classy touch and something he didn't have to do.

I was made up.

I am genuinely gutted by this news I really am.

RIP Dean

fatcity69 wrote:Nice to see some people opening up on here about their problems with depression. Theres nothing as lonely as suffering from depression and being unable to communicate how you feel to anyone else for fear of being rejected or laughed at or a burden etc. I think the more people open up about it the better and hopefully the stigma will lessen in time...

X2

I agree.

Depression is massively misunderstood, especially depression with men.

Its a silent thing quite often, and we would all do well to make sure our loved ones and those close to us are ok.

Like everyone else I was very shocked when I heard about this very sad news, he was an ever present figure in British boxing and was a gentleman too.

I have been working on a small project involving a boxing gym and a suicide prevention charity to look at developing a programme where boxing training can be used to speed up the recovery process from those that are coming out of depression, and I am told it can help half the recovery time. It is still early days and a big research question at the moment is how to design these programmes to keep people engaged in consistently going to the gym as there is a high drop out rate.

A couple of interesting things that I learned when I discussed suicide prevention from experts is that most people who take their own life have a one point warned that they will do it i.e. "nobody would miss me if I was not here", "this time next year I may not be here" etc.

It sounds like a cliche but talking to people is a genuinely helpful thing to do if you are feeling very low or depressed. The councillor that I spoke to used the analogy of it is like when a car is running low in petrol, the act of talking to someone is like filling the car up with petrol to keep up sustained. Adding sport participation or fitness training such as boxing etc - significantly helps people with the recovery process.

A shocking fact that I learned is that a lot of people that go to take their own life, initially do not plan to go the whole way through with it - it is like they will have an attempt - an experiment/role play but will back out of it at last minute - i.e. like a cry for help. But, I was told that people that do this by 'experimenting' with hanging, in some cases go through with it - even though they try to change their mind at the last minute, but it is too late, because the first thing that goes when you try to hang yourself are your legs and you cannot pull yourself back up.

Anyway, thought I would share this, and I hope that those on here who have had low points in their life (especially us men) talk to their loved ones, friends or call into a drop in session at your local suicide prevention centre - things are never as bad as you think they are if you just talk to someone and avail of the many services that they have i.e. acupuncture etc. Also, there are lots of free courses available for trainers to become qualified in suicide prevention awareness from various charities.

gasman wrote:Like everyone else I was very shocked when I heard about this very sad news, he was an ever present figure in British boxing and was a gentleman too.

I have been working on a small project involving a boxing gym and a suicide prevention charity to look at developing a programme where boxing training can be used to speed up the recovery process from those that are coming out of depression, and I am told it can help half the recovery time. It is still early days and a big research question at the moment is how to design these programmes to keep people engaged in consistently going to the gym as there is a high drop out rate.

A couple of interesting things that I learned when I discussed suicide prevention from experts is that most people who take their own life have a one point warned that they will do it i.e. "nobody would miss me if I was not here", "this time next year I may not be here" etc.

It sounds like a cliche but talking to people is a genuinely helpful thing to do if you are feeling very low or depressed. The councillor that I spoke to used the analogy of it is like when a car is running low in petrol, the act of talking to someone is like filling the car up with petrol to keep up sustained. Adding sport participation or fitness training such as boxing etc - significantly helps people with the recovery process.

A shocking fact that I learned is that a lot of people that go to take their own life, initially do not plan to go the whole way through with it - it is like they will have an attempt - an experiment/role play but will back out of it at last minute - i.e. like a cry for help. But, I was told that people that do this by 'experimenting' with hanging, in some cases go through with it - even though they try to change their mind at the last minute, but it is too late, because the first thing that goes when you try to hang yourself are your legs and you cannot pull yourself back up.

Anyway, thought I would share this, and I hope that those on here who have had low points in their life (especially us men) talk to their loved ones, friends or call into a drop in session at your local suicide prevention centre - things are never as bad as you think they are if you just talk to someone and avail of the many services that they have i.e. acupuncture etc. Also, there are lots of free courses available for trainers to become qualified in suicide prevention awareness from various charities.

It's funny you say that as a lot of ignorant people would say are they're just attention seeking, etc. It's good to hear that isnt true and those people are talking bollocks.

columbo wrote:

gasman wrote:Like everyone else I was very shocked when I heard about this very sad news, he was an ever present figure in British boxing and was a gentleman too.

I have been working on a small project involving a boxing gym and a suicide prevention charity to look at developing a programme where boxing training can be used to speed up the recovery process from those that are coming out of depression, and I am told it can help half the recovery time. It is still early days and a big research question at the moment is how to design these programmes to keep people engaged in consistently going to the gym as there is a high drop out rate.

A couple of interesting things that I learned when I discussed suicide prevention from experts is that most people who take their own life have a one point warned that they will do it i.e. "nobody would miss me if I was not here", "this time next year I may not be here" etc.

It sounds like a cliche but talking to people is a genuinely helpful thing to do if you are feeling very low or depressed. The councillor that I spoke to used the analogy of it is like when a car is running low in petrol, the act of talking to someone is like filling the car up with petrol to keep up sustained. Adding sport participation or fitness training such as boxing etc - significantly helps people with the recovery process.

A shocking fact that I learned is that a lot of people that go to take their own life, initially do not plan to go the whole way through with it - it is like they will have an attempt - an experiment/role play but will back out of it at last minute - i.e. like a cry for help. But, I was told that people that do this by 'experimenting' with hanging, in some cases go through with it - even though they try to change their mind at the last minute, but it is too late, because the first thing that goes when you try to hang yourself are your legs and you cannot pull yourself back up.

Anyway, thought I would share this, and I hope that those on here who have had low points in their life (especially us men) talk to their loved ones, friends or call into a drop in session at your local suicide prevention centre - things are never as bad as you think they are if you just talk to someone and avail of the many services that they have i.e. acupuncture etc. Also, there are lots of free courses available for trainers to become qualified in suicide prevention awareness from various charities.

It's funny you say that as a lot of ignorant people would say are they're just attention seeking, etc. It's good to hear that isnt true and those people are talking bollocks.

Exactly mate, there is a lot of ignorance out there.

gasman wrote:

columbo wrote:

gasman wrote:Like everyone else I was very shocked when I heard about this very sad news, he was an ever present figure in British boxing and was a gentleman too.

I have been working on a small project involving a boxing gym and a suicide prevention charity to look at developing a programme where boxing training can be used to speed up the recovery process from those that are coming out of depression, and I am told it can help half the recovery time. It is still early days and a big research question at the moment is how to design these programmes to keep people engaged in consistently going to the gym as there is a high drop out rate.

A couple of interesting things that I learned when I discussed suicide prevention from experts is that most people who take their own life have a one point warned that they will do it i.e. "nobody would miss me if I was not here", "this time next year I may not be here" etc.

It sounds like a cliche but talking to people is a genuinely helpful thing to do if you are feeling very low or depressed. The councillor that I spoke to used the analogy of it is like when a car is running low in petrol, the act of talking to someone is like filling the car up with petrol to keep up sustained. Adding sport participation or fitness training such as boxing etc - significantly helps people with the recovery process.

A shocking fact that I learned is that a lot of people that go to take their own life, initially do not plan to go the whole way through with it - it is like they will have an attempt - an experiment/role play but will back out of it at last minute - i.e. like a cry for help. But, I was told that people that do this by 'experimenting' with hanging, in some cases go through with it - even though they try to change their mind at the last minute, but it is too late, because the first thing that goes when you try to hang yourself are your legs and you cannot pull yourself back up.

Anyway, thought I would share this, and I hope that those on here who have had low points in their life (especially us men) talk to their loved ones, friends or call into a drop in session at your local suicide prevention centre - things are never as bad as you think they are if you just talk to someone and avail of the many services that they have i.e. acupuncture etc. Also, there are lots of free courses available for trainers to become qualified in suicide prevention awareness from various charities.

It's funny you say that as a lot of ignorant people would say are they're just attention seeking, etc. It's good to hear that isnt true and those people are talking bollocks.

Exactly mate, there is a lot of ignorance out there.

I dont think you can pidgeon hole people into categories. I mean ive heard of people who have committed suicide who never gave indication that they were going to do anything. It all depends on an individuals personality I guess.

RIP DEAN MATE

Wrists wrote:
I once wrote a piece for this site and in it I praised his corner work, just a couple of lines, nothing OTT.

He sought out my telephone number and rang me to thank me for what I said. Again just a quick thank you, nothing OTT.

I thought it was a classy touch and something he didn't have to do.

that is a classic touch in anybody's book, I agree. I remember reading on here how he wanted to box but didn't feel he had enough strength, so he got into the sport another way. He just had one of those faces where you turned on the TV and said "there's Dean Powell..." to fans and fighters, he was synonymous with the sport of Boxing in this country.
Perhaps there's more that will come out about this that may explain. In the meantime my thoughts go out to his family and close ones. Sounds from these tributes that he was a friendly, decent human being. RIP.

NorthEastBoxingFan wrote:

Wrists wrote:
I once wrote a piece for this site and in it I praised his corner work, just a couple of lines, nothing OTT.

He sought out my telephone number and rang me to thank me for what I said. Again just a quick thank you, nothing OTT.

I thought it was a classy touch and something he didn't have to do.

that is a classic touch in anybody's book, I agree. I remember reading on here how he wanted to box but didn't feel he had enough strength, so he got into the sport another way. He just had one of those faces where you turned on the TV and said "there's Dean Powell..." to fans and fighters, he was synonymous with the sport of Boxing in this country.
Perhaps there's more that will come out about this that may explain. In the meantime my thoughts go out to his family and close ones. Sounds from these tributes that he was a friendly, decent human being. RIP.

How did he get into it? Do you know NEBF?

not sure mate, I just remember reading something to that effect on Boxrec. I think he may have fought but then decided it wasn't for him. I don't know his story beyond that.

RIP.

columbo wrote: I dont think you can pidgeon hole people into categories. I mean ive heard of people who have committed suicide who never gave indication that they were going to do anything. It all depends on an individuals personality I guess.

True, I knew a couple of people who took their own lives and they never gave an inkling to anyone that they would do it.

Went to Ronnie browns gym and just helped and learnt.Never forgot ronnie you see him at ringside at all the big fights.Got involved there watched and listened then moved to london and lived in the thomas a beckatt gym wile doing the same thing there.

jonp wrote:Went to Ronnie browns gym and just helped and learnt.Never forgot ronnie you see him at ringside at all the big fights.Got involved there watched and listened then moved to london and lived in the thomas a beckatt gym wile doing the same thing there.

Was that in reply to my question Jon? If so, thanks mate

What an absolute shock, always seemed a very decent bloke and liked by everyone. RIP Dean.

Awful awful news, RIP Dean Powell.

Like others here I have suffered with depression and it is horrendous; dark, lonely and so so difficult to retain any hope for beating it. I only recently overcame my 2nd serious bout and returned to work this month after nearly 4 months of being unable to work (or do much else for that matter).

It's so difficult to comprehend unless you have suffered with it and I do get why people struggle to understand it; now I've come through the other side I find it hard to comprehend myself just where my head was only a matter a weeks ago. Fortunately there does seem to be a lot more awareness now and my employer and colleagues have been very supportive of me and have been great in helping me successfully return to work.

In terms of those that so tragically take their lives I have nothing but sympathy and I find it difficult to hear people refer to them as cowards, or castigate them for leaving their loved ones behind. I agree with what has been said by others here, when facing it you actually find it takes a lot of balls. It's not a case of wanting to die, it's a matter of not being able to face the terrible pain of depression, the hopelessness, seeing the effect it has on those close to you and seeing how quickly your life can fall apart an to be facing the possible loss of everything you hold dear; it sounds twisted when you are not suffering with depression but one of the hardest things is wanting the pain to end but feeling certain that you cannot get better and yet you don't have the guts to put an end to it. It really does seem that there is no way out and the thought of where you will end up is terrifying.

Apologies for a long, depressing post but I think it is so important that more and more people understand this illness and take it seriously to prevent further tragedies in future. I guess i feel some responsibility to try to do my bit to raise awaeness. Depression can be overcome but it is bloody hard, and I consider being able to endure it and come out the other side to be my greatest achievement in life. I was very lucky that I was able to talk about it with people and was able to get the help I needed, sadly not everyone is so fortunate to have sympathetic friends and colleagues, nor access to the right treatment - in my experience although the help offered by the NHS is better than a few years ago it is still woefully inadequate.

R.I.P. Dean, and my thoughts to all those that will miss him.

Matt W wrote:Awful awful news, RIP Dean Powell.

Like others here I have suffered with depression and it is horrendous; dark, lonely and so so difficult to retain any hope for beating it. I only recently overcame my 2nd serious bout and returned to work this month after nearly 4 months of being unable to work (or do much else for that matter).

It's so difficult to comprehend unless you have suffered with it and I do get why people struggle to understand it; now I've come through the other side I find it hard to comprehend myself just where my head was only a matter a weeks ago. Fortunately there does seem to be a lot more awareness now and my employer and colleagues have been very supportive of me and have been great in helping me successfully return to work.

In terms of those that so tragically take their lives I have nothing but sympathy and I find it difficult to hear people refer to them as cowards, or castigate them for leaving their loved ones behind. I agree with what has been said by others here, when facing it you actually find it takes a lot of balls. It's not a case of wanting to die, it's a matter of not being able to face the terrible pain of depression, the hopelessness, seeing the effect it has on those close to you and seeing how quickly your life can fall apart an to be facing the possible loss of everything you hold dear; it sounds twisted when you are not suffering with depression but one of the hardest things is wanting the pain to end but feeling certain that you cannot get better and yet you don't have the guts to put an end to it. It really does seem that there is no way out and the thought of where you will end up is terrifying.

Apologies for a long, depressing post but I think it is so important that more and more people understand this illness and take it seriously to prevent further tragedies in future. I guess i feel some responsibility to try to do my bit to raise awaeness. Depression can be overcome but it is bloody hard, and I consider being able to endure it and come out the other side to be my greatest achievement in life. I was very lucky that I was able to talk about it with people and was able to get the help I needed, sadly not everyone is so fortunate to have sympathetic friends and colleagues, nor access to the right treatment - in my experience although the help offered by the NHS is better than a few years ago it is still woefully inadequate.

R.I.P. Dean, and my thoughts to all those that will miss him.

Great post mate and glad to hear you're doing better

columbo wrote:

jonp wrote:Went to Ronnie browns gym and just helped and learnt.Never forgot ronnie you see him at ringside at all the big fights.Got involved there watched and listened then moved to london and lived in the thomas a beckatt gym wile doing the same thing there.

Was that in reply to my question Jon? If so, thanks mate

Yes he was also very friendly with lenny woodhall in his early days Dean was the epitome of watching listening and learning then in his turn he passed on everything he could to new guys like myself.dont realise what a good guy he was untill some thing like this happens and you sit down an think about yr own experiances with the man

Did dean ever box?

Only just seen this, so so sad and gutting. RIP Dean.