Time to Talk about mental health

Sam_Alumni · February 2018

Today is the Time to Change day of mental health awareness called Time To Talk. They say:

Around 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem this year yet the shame and silence can be as bad as the mental health problem itself. Your attitude to mental health could change someone’s life.

Here on the community, we talk about all aspects of life as a disabled person and that includes mental health challenges. We are proud that the community is a place where people feel secure enough to share their experiences and that there is such a warm and positive response between our members. Thank you for being such a great community.

Talking about mental health can be tough, but there is no right way to start this conversation. It is just about being there for someone and recognising that sharing your own experiences can be so so helpful to others who are also struggling.

There are lots of ways to get involved today, take a look at some of the materials available. The Time for Change website has a few tips on how to get the conversation started, you can read their full article about the tips here.

Start small

Find a good time and place

Ask questions (gently!)

Be open

Treat them the same

Let us know what this day means to you. How have you found talking about your mental health? Do you feel supported? What could others do to help you speak out? How do you feel when talking about your mental health?

thespiceman · February 2018

Hello @Sam_Scope I would like to start may I be so bold. Understanding and being there as a support is I believe for myself the top priority. Thank you SCOPE and the team.

Having to talk to some one about what is happening is important for me. Especially if I chat to some one similar on the forum.

My issues and problems started way back from a time long ago when discussing health and mental well being. I had a childhood and early adult hood where these sorts of issues were not addressed.

I had symptoms anxiety and depression in my early years of childhood and teens. Then it was never discussed and even though I was not well. Had the thoughts and feelings made worse by drink and drugs. My pleas were ignored by Doctors and my Mother.

I know this because one Doctor took time out to read my case notes and had me sat down. Talking what was happening to me. I asked why all that time. He said in those days a lot of medical views, opinions on the subject are very much his words swept under the carpet. I can recall him now saying that now.

He saw that every time I had a drink caused by anxiety then reaching for another made the symptoms worse. Went into rehab and got sorted. Always there though most days this urge to have a drink. No matter how much therapy you have.

I know in the last mental health charity they did not like me talking about the relation between mental health and addiction. Got put down. Not the only place.

One Christmas got permission to talk about the connection. I was the first to start suddenly a few more started. There were tears, there were looks of silence, there were the doubters. People could not understand how having addiction in relation to mental health. These were the drinkers of the group of people.

Since that day I thought it would be advisable in my humble opinion to see if I could help any body. In similar problems. I was in for a shock. My support worker explained in simple terms. Policy of this charity is to the staff to deal with it. In her words. Hang on we are the ones with mental health.

Problem shared, problem addressed with compassion and understanding. I said I am there for others. All I ever got was this reaction of we are a mental health charity and we will help you. At the same time you can not talk about yourself in front of others. Please can I say then if they wish to and want to talk why not.

I am same as them. They may feel comfortable talking to another gentleman of similar age. I had met a lot of gentlemen my age and similar problems. Who wanted to deal with their issues. Found it hard to discuss with a female support worker. I was one of those and still am.

That is the big problem in my opinion getting over the barrier and being aware that if you need to talk. Some one has the time to listen, have tolerance, patience.

I have been there all too proud gentleman to discuss what is effecting me mentally and what is bothering me.

When I first had a lady support worker from a mental health charity. I did not speak for about ten minutes. She sat at one end of the sofa I sat the other end silence. In the beginning it was a struggle to speak and say how am I.

So every time I applied for help, support it was all female support staff. I had to try to cope and would have been ideal to have a male support worker. Position now is that I do find it some times being honest about my feelings, emotions.

By way got great support and help same old story funding and budgets tight. I was talking to some one yesterday about this. On a waiting list nearly three months. This person I was chatting to, recognised me from a previous charity he been with.

That is whole nub of mental health lack of funding, support and help.

Hope you OK nice to talk to you Take care.

Topkitten · February 2018

I don't think the biggest problem is that people can't or don't want to talk about Mental Health issues but that, face to face, too many people are embarrassed to be on the receiving end of such discussions and simply don't want to know.

I have always been prepared to have such discussions especially face to face but I seem to be in the minority out there in the wide world.

People do tend to open up more anonymously in places like this not realising, I suppose, that it shows their difficulties in discussing things generally. There is a shame factor but that is more imposed upon us by the listeners rather than the problem itself.

TK

[Deleted User] · February 2018