A "brilliant" young musician died after living with crippling migraines that were so debilitating they forced him to give up his music career.
Sean Martin, 26, was the frontman for up-and-coming indie band The Night Cafe when he started experiencing severe migraines in 2020. The band, which he founded in 2014 alongside friends from Gateacre School, Belle Vale, Liverpool, had released its debut album the year prior and was enjoying massive popularity on Spotify and YouTube.
He was forced to step away from the group after the migraine attacks began, leaving him heartbroken after he spent years forging a promising career. His mum is raising awareness of the "really debilitating" condition that eventually led her son to take his own life.
Speaking to the Liverpool ECHO, Cath said she wants people to understand that migraines - which can cause symptoms like vomiting, nausea, and extreme light and sound sensitivity - are "more than just a headache". Migraines can come in bursts, known as attacks, that can last for days, causing wide-ranging impact across all aspects of a sufferer's life.
The mum, 58, who is campaigning on behalf of The Migraine Trust, said her son was already living with bipolar disorder when the migraines started, and barely had a few days a month where he was headache-free. She said: "They started around 2020 and they were really debilitating. It's a myth that it's just a headache and that's what I'm trying to get out there.
"It is more than a headache without a doubt. It can impact every part of your life. Sean was an amazing musician and he just wanted to do his music, and the migraines were getting in the way because they were so severe. It was absolutely chronic." Sean was found dead at his home in Parkfield Road, Aigburth, on November 3, 2023.
A Liverpool inquest carried out on April 10 concluded that the musician had taken his own life. Cath added: "Sean's migraines were lasting him the most of a month at a time. He wasn't headache-free for more than a few days a month. That's how bad they were. It impacted every aspect.
"He wanted to continue writing his songs, he wanted to continue to do the things he was so brilliant at, but unfortunately the pain was just so debilitating. There are days when you can't focus when you have that severe pain. He had to step away from his music, and that was heartbreaking for him because it was all he wanted to do."
A Migraine Trust survey found that, of 2,028 people, 89 percent said their mental health was worsened by the condition, with 55 percent saying the impact was significant. A further 80 percent said they withdrew socially due to the condition, with 59 percent saying they had lost confidence and 48 percent feeling isolated.
Up to 34 percent of the survey respondents said they had thoughts of suicide.
Cath said: "In my heart, for the legacy of my beautiful son, if I can help one more person not suffer the way he suffered, then that's got to be a good thing. It's so important for people to understand a migraine is more than just a headache. Employers need to understand, doctors need to.
"Mental health services need to be aware that for people suffering from chronic pain conditions, the pathway needs to be quicker than it is. It's systematic change that's needed for people who suffer from migraines. He was such a kind, caring lad who, with his music, was able to help others, and we have had lots of people contact us since he passed away saying how much his songwriting has helped them, which was wonderful. But because of that chronic pain, it was hard to go on."
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org , visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
