Mental Health - Let's Get Talking

     January is over and February is here. How are those new years resolutions coming along?  Congrats if you're still going - you rock! But if you've fallen off the metaphorical wagon or horse don't give up - brush yourself down and get back on that metaphorical wagon/horse that we talked about earlier.
     Even though the year is still young, I feel that this year will be a great year for mental health. Even though there are more and more people are talking, there is still a wall of stigma; but I believe that the more we walk about mental health the more the wall gets broken down.

     At this time 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems experience stigma and discrimination. I believe that it is the myths surrounding mental health that are perhaps the biggest contributor this stigma. Here are a few of these myths...

1. Mental health problems are very rare.
2. People with mental health problems are very different from other people.
3. Only celebrities get mental illnesses.
4. People with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable.
5. It's best to leave people alone if they develop a mental health problem.

When in reality...

1. Mental health problems affect 1 in 4 people.
2. We all have mental health, just like we all have physical health.
3. Anyone can be affected by a mental illness, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity or background.
4. People with a mental illness are more likely to be a victim of violence.
5. Most people with mental health problems will want to keep in touch with their friends, family and colleagues. Keeping in touch can be a great help in their recovery.

These experiences of stigma and discrimination against mental illness can have very harmful effects. It can:

• prevent an individual from applying or gaining a job,
• leave an individual feeling isolated from friends and family,
• most importantly, prevent someone from seeking help when they may need it most  due to feelings of embarrassment or fear of discrimination.

You might be thinking now 'What can I do about this?'. Well, I have a few suggestions. 

You don't have be a mental health expert to be supportive (but some knowledge can help). But doing nothing, or avoiding the issue, can making things worse. If someone close to you (a friend, family member or colleague) is experiencing mental health problems or a mental illness there are a lot of small things you can do that make a BIG difference. 

• Be there to talk and listen.
• It can be very hard for somebody to tell someone about a mental health problem out of fear of reactions. If someone talks to you, acknowledge their problem and let them know you're there for them.
• Make time to stay in touch, carry on with whatever you'd normally do.
• Ask them how you can help; people will need support at different times and in different ways.
• Also bear in mind that having a mental health problem is just one part of the person; don't define them by this alone. Speak about other things - TV, movies, music etc.
• Furthermore, think about the words you use. Using words like 'crazy', 'nutter', 'loony' or 'psycho' can hurt and only reinforce the stigma of mental health.

     For further help and advice, whenever you may want or need it, you can turn to mental health organisations like Mind, YoungMinds, Time to Change, Rethink, and many more.

     So, with these tips in your arsenal why not start a conversation about mental health?

Let's get talking!!

BMNM.