I am one of the 25% of people who suffer from a mental
health problem. It seems like a shockingly high number doesn’t it? When
statistics come out for other illnesses such as cancer or type 2 diabetes,
no-one bats an eyelid, because we all know someone who has been affected by
these. Often, someone among our nearest and dearest. But mental health
problems? For many, they are things that happen to other people. There is still such a stigma in our society that people
don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health. Look around at your
friends, family, neighbours, colleagues. On average, 1 in 4 will have or have
had some issue with their mental health, but we never hear about most of them
because people are too ashamed or embarrassed to “come out” as mentally ill.
I have struggled with severe depression on and off for over four years.
Within that period there have been good times, and there have been bad times. I
honestly don’t think I would still be here today without the support of the
people around me. And yet, most people I know have no idea I am depressed, and I wouldn’t
dream of talking to them about it. For the sake of contrast, I am also a type 1
diabetic. My family all know this, my friends all know this, and many colleagues
and acquaintances do too. I am very open with my diabetes, and happy to talk
about it. So why the difference? These are both long term, chronic conditions
that affect my everyday life. The fact is that I don’t fear judgement for my
diabetes. When I tell people I am depressed, I worry that they are thinking I am weak or pathetic. That I am using it as an excuse. Even that I am a
danger to myself. I worry that people will look at me and treat me differently.
That blossoming friendships or relationships may flounder because I have too
much emotional baggage. And the saddest part is that these are not just
paranoid concerns. These are real reactions that I have had from real people.
So why I am I putting this out there for the whole internet to
read if I am so scared of how people will react? Because this is not how it
should be. I don’t believe that people that react this way are bad people, or are trying to hurt me. A lot of people simply don’t how to respond because it’s a new
experience for them. They are wary, thanks to media portrayals of those with a
mental illness as either dangerous, pathetic, or trying to beat the system.
They are scared of the unknown. It doesn’t have to be this way. People need to
know about mental illness, how to talk about it, and how to support those
affected. We can change and save lives. It’s Time to Talk.
http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/
