Time To Talk Day

This is a great organisation http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/ which aims to stop stigma and discrimination that surrounds Mental Health.

The purpose of this day is to literally take 5 minutes to discuss mental health in any kind of forum, lets face it needs to be discussed.

As I have written on here about my own struggles with depression and the aftermath, recovery I found has been difficult, it’s not just about getting better, but more about using the tools to continue your well being.

I cannot state strongly enough about how insidious mental health is in all its different forms and left untreated can and does lead to very serious consequences to the sufferer, suicide being the final course of action for many.

Mental health does not recognise the day-to-day banalities of life so age/ where you come from/ how much money you have/ doesn’t matter it can manifest in anyone, for a variety of reasons/triggers, coupled with our own self-induced stigma in firstly not realising there is an issue, but also denial of symptoms to quite often mis-diagnoses from doctors etc.

In the UK there is certainly not nearly enough financial resources to deal with this problem and in my own experience I was just given anti depressants and a leaflet to call somebody should my symptom’s reach crises point, our doctors are over worked and underfunded, so though it can seem like passing the back, the resources depending on where you live just aren’t there.

Mental health is everybody’s concern, family members,friends,colleague’s won’t always be aware that something is wrong and probably wouldn’t even know what questions to ask, let alone get help, this is why we need to talk about it or be allowed to more openly.

This initiative is being supported by several different organisations which include the fire service schools,universities offices, the awareness in the work place is key, as this can affect your job, and it’s important that companies understand how this illness can affect your performance and that it’s not just a case of under performing, this also includes bullying in the work place.

Though this is a UK initiative we can all take 5 minutes to talk about this be it in person/blogs/social media/workplace/schools/colleges/universities, be aware this is a silent illness and there is not always obvious outwardly that someone is in crises.

We need to end stigma and discrimination it’s the only way forward to break the myths and silence out Mental Health Illness.

Help

Stigmatisation – Written by the Elephant In The Room