We are only vitriolic towards him because we aren't ignorant on mental health and a lot of us are fellow sufferers, we told him if at any point it becomes to much he has to say "look I'm really sorry but I'm not emotionally equipped to deal with this stuff myself, could you talk to SiFixD about it?".

I told him that time and time again, but he still chose to be blunt to someone he knew was in a depressive episode because he just didn't want to deal with it at that moment in time, despite knowing that was his role. He had been chosen as the best friend to do it, and until then pretended to be fine with it.

It's still horrible to think about how he must have felt in that moment, hearing his best friend say that. Makes me cry everytime I talk about it / type it out.

Support circles are SO IMPORTANT and your role in one is CRITICAL, if you are actively part of one it's a 24/7 role. You get that call, you get up and drive to meet them, no questions asked. I'll leave work for that shit after Mitch, never again.