Mental health is our emotional and psychological wellbeing and is often referred to as our “emotional wellbeing”. Being mentally healthy does not mean that you do not have a mental health problem, it means that you are in a state of emotional and psychological wellbeing in which you can use your cognitive and emotional capabilities to function in society and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life. There are people out there (I sadly know a few) that will tell you that your physical wellbeing is more important than your mental wellbeing. I am here to tell you that they are wrong. Your emotional wellbeing is just as important as your physical wellbeing.
Mental Health Problems
Mental health problems are very common. 1 in 4 adults will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year, whereas 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week. It is a myth that children cannot experience mental health problems, as 1 in 10 are found to experience a mental health problem of some kind in each year.
People often assume that when referring to mental health problems it is meant that someone has bipolar or depression, but there are a variety of mental health problems such as obsessive compulsive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, phobias and PTSD. Mental health problems are vast, can be complex and a person’s diagnosis may change several times during their life.
Anyone can suffer with a mental health problem, but there are some groups who are more likely to get them than others, including people who identify as LGBT+, homeless people, black people and younger people. What is important to know is that your identity does not give you mental health problems. Causes of mental health problems can be very complicated and the higher risk for certain groups is linked to several factors, including but not limited to, differences in physical health and facing discrimination and social exclusion.
Some feel that labels for mental health problems can be stigmatising and many feel that they shouldn’t be used at all. I understand this view, but labelling a mental health problem can be beneficial with employment and helping your employer understand and support you. Labels can also help you better understand what you’re going through and assess what help is best for you.
The Stigma
Unfortunately, stigma surrounding mental health problems is still common. There is an active conversation within society calling an end to this stigma, but there is still a long road ahead. There is a lot more light on charities that can assist with mental health problems, the Government have promised more money to support mental health problems and there is more positivity surrounding getting help for mental health problems. Even with all of this, it is reported that approximately only 1 in 8 adults with a mental health problem are currently getting any kind of treatment.
Even though a lot of people are affected by mental health problems the social stigma surrounding mental health problems stops people from seeking treatment and can cause people to experience discrimination in all aspects of their lives. Stigmas associated with mental health problems tend to come from the misguided view that these individuals are “different”. Well they’re not, they are the same as everyone else, they are just experiencing things that are affecting their mental wellbeing. Everyone faces various things in life and some can have a negative impact on your mental wellbeing, which is understandable.
If you were hit in the leg every day with a block of wood you would feel pain, well this is the same with your mental health, you can be overcome by horrendous thoughts every day and this can cause you to feel emotional pain. So why is it that if you have a physical condition impairing your ability to live and everyone can see it you are offered support and well wishes, but if you have a mental condition that impairs your ability to live no one cares?
The issue that I’ve found with mental health problems is that the onus is you to tell the truth. As no one else knows what you are thinking and feeling, this makes sense, but it also means that you can deceive people and underplay your symptoms. This is where social stigma can massively impact receiving the correct diagnosis. If you don’t want to be labelled with a certain mental health problem then you could underplay your symptoms, which would mean you’d receive incorrect treatment and your symptoms could worsen.
The Royal family are avid supporters of improving mental health treatment and for spreading awareness which in my eyes is extremely helpful as a lot of people listen to the royal family and care about what they have to say. I’ve mentioned above that the Government has promised extra funding for supporting mental health problems, but as we all know we have to take their promises with a pinch of salt. Until workplaces and society as a whole changes their view on mental health problems the issues surrounding social stigma will continue to negatively impact those suffering with mental health problems and stop them seeking treatment.
The Difference Between Men and Women
Men tend to face a harsher social stigma in terms of mental health problems. Since the dawn of time men have had overwhelming expectations thrust upon them. I do not deny that women have also experienced these expectations but for women it’s more socially acceptable to share that they have suffered/suffer mental health problems as a result of these expectations.
Men are often told that they cannot cry, that they have to be strong and they should “man up”. Men are less likely to seek help for mental health problems, which has led to a high rate of male suicides – three times as many men as women die by suicide. According to the Government’s national wellbeing survey men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women. So, why is this? Well men can be damaged by stereotypes and expectations too. Men are often expected to be the breadwinners, to be strong and in control of their life. I’m not saying that these are bad things, but they can make it harder for men to reach out and ask for help. This stops men from reaching out to their friends and family, whereas women are more likely to discuss how they are with their friends and family. With the feeling that there is nowhere for them to turn, men are more likely to use harmful coping methods such as drugs and alcohol.
There are campaigns to increase the conversation about men’s mental health problems and to normalise the seeking of help, but it’s incredibly hard to change stigmas deep rooted into society.
Whilst symptoms of mental health problems tend to be similar between men and women, some symptoms are more common in men, such as aggression, throwing themselves into work and sudden anger.
It is extremely important to normalise the conversation surrounding mental health problems and for both men and women to understand that there is nothing wrong with seeking help. Mental health professionals are not there to judge, they are only there to help. Talking about mental health problems is just the start in the road to improving your mental wellbeing.
Treatment
If you have reached the point of asking for help then this is a big achievement and you should congratulate yourself. However, what I will say is that this is just the start of the journey. Each diagnosis is different and each person can require a different form of treatment.
Everyone has different experiences with mental health problems, some ask for help and they receive it immediately, others ask for help and they are put on a waiting list. We are all aware that the NHS is underfunded and overworked and help is not always readily available. I’ve been quite lucky in that when I have asked for help I have received it immediately. I am aware though that people ask for help and they do not receive it until it is too late. You can build up all of your courage to reach out to a professional and then can wait for months for anything to be done.
Mental health problems need treatment immediately or the symptoms could worsen and lead to people feeling as of there is no way out.
Dependent on where you live and the doctor that you are registered to can greatly affect the treatment that you receive. It also takes time to find the right treatment for you and can be a while before you receive treatment that helps you.
Medication is often offered as an initial response, but without the addition of therapy, people can find this unhelpful. No one treatment helps everyone. There are various medications available, various types of therapy and each doctor has a different view on treatment.
Support for mental health problems needs improvement and as a country we always seem two steps behind. What with the evolution of the Internet and the increase of online trolls, the support offered is not yet adequate. The younger generation is experiencing things that other generations cannot understand. Simply switching off your devices is not the answer, even if you’re offline the comments and attacks you face will still follow you. Treatment for mental health problems as a result of cyber attacks is likely to be different to treatment for mental health problems suffered due to your upbringing.
My Experience With Mental Health
I shouldn’t feel like this because compared to most I by no means have had a hard life is my most commonly used sentence when discussing my mental health problems. I have recently learnt that this is not the outlook to have. I should not be comparing myself to others, because this is just feeding the shame I feel for experiencing mental health problems.
I’m not going to try and analyse why I experience mental health problems because there are many factors that could attribute to it. In addition to this, I cannot change the past so there is no point in dwelling on it. Obviously, discussing the past can help improve your mental wellbeing if done in a safe environment, with the help of a professional, but I’m not about to start assigning blame in this blog post.
I first treated for anxiety and depression when I was 13 and I was first treated for OCD when I was 14. I was told at a young age that I would most likely need treatment on and off for the rest of my life. I dislike taking medication because I find that it gives me a false sense of reality – if I experience a traumatic life event I want to feel the pain, I don’t want to view it through rose tinted glasses, but I also know that sometimes I need medication. I have a constant battle with anxiety and depression and go through different stages of needing help. Sometimes medication alone works, whereas other times I need medication and therapy. Under advise from my doctors, if I know that I have an upcoming change in my life I will start taking my medication, just to give me a sort of cushion in case I fall. As life is unpredictable I cannot always tell if I’m going to encounter a change, which usually means that I will fall before I can catch myself. I have gotten a lot better at checking in with myself and assessing my actions, my moods and my behaviours to determine whether I need to ask for help. Sometimes it’s not always possible to stop my anxiety and depression before it drags me into the darkness, but I am currently experiencing more good days than bad, which is an achievement.
I feel an overwhelming shame towards my mental health problems and I think that this is because I lead quite a privileged life. I also think that it’s because I’m a such an active person who knows exactly what they want from life and am in the middle of achieving it, but when my anxiety and depression spikes, the person that I know myself to be disappears and this angers me. It’s a never ending cycle – I will experience anxiety and depression and then I will become angry with myself and spiral into self loathing. This combined is a hard cycle to break.
Speaking to various people about my mental health problems has helped understand how people view mental health. Take one of my previous managers for example, they have stated that they have never experienced mental health problems and do not understand why people suffer with them. They have also previously asked me what exactly it is I’m suffering with. Apparently anxiety and depression is not enough, they feel that this should fall under something more severe. More severe? I did not wash or eat for 2 weeks. I could not move off the sofa. I caused myself to have such a negative view of food that I couldn’t eat without feeling psychically sick. I stopped talking to my friends and family, I stopped caring about myself and others and I stopped caring about life. If this isn’t severe enough, then they clearly do not has a grasp on mental health problems. My therapist called me twice a week and I had weekly doctors appointments to make sure that I wasn’t intending on ending my life. Depression and anxiety is real and it can be extremely severe if left untreated.
Post 2020
With the on and off lockdowns since March 2020 the conversation surrounding mental health problems has increased and quite rightly so. People have been unable to leave their homes, have had to video chat for social interactions and those that live alone have felt more isolated than ever. Life has changed for everyone and for some this has negatively impacted their mental health.
Lockdown 3.0 has seemed harder than the previous two lockdowns. I’m unsure as to why, but if I was to hazard a guess it would be because this lockdown seems to be never ending. In addition to this I believe that the weather has had an impact. By the time you’ve finished work its dark outside which puts you off going for a walk. It’s cold so its easier to stay indoors rather than go out for a walk. As well as this, it’s been nearly a year for some of not seeing family and friends and this can severely affect your mood and outlook on life.
The nation as a whole has become more sedative. This is common in the winter but even more so this winter as there is no option but to stay inside. Exercise has been proven to help improve mental health problems, but if you have to stay inside and aren’t a fan of going for a run outside then finding motivation to exercise is extremely hard. Looking at the same four walls every day can be overwhelming, especially if you’re working from home – there is no escape.
I’ve mentioned in a previous post that 2020 has been the worst year so far for my mental health problems. Albeit the pandemic was not the key factor in my depression and anxiety spiking, but it did play a part. I went from being out of the house 6 days a week, 18 hours a day to being in the house 6 days a week 23 hours a day. I was not ready for the change and I did not welcome it. I became unmotivated, was alone with my own thoughts and started to hate my house as it feels constantly cluttered. Surprisingly lockdown 3.0 has been very productive for me; I’m up to date with uni work, I’m doing any admin required for work and I’m getting better at replying to messages. I still falter at housework and with getting out of bed early, but I am aware of what I need to improve on and am actively working on my “flaws”.
The Future
There is still a long road ahead to normalising the conversation regarding mental health and for society to understand that it’s just as important as your physical health. Employers are becoming more aware of how mental health problems can affect their employees and are changing their sickness policies etc to reflect this, but support and empathy still needs improvement. Checking in with your friends and family can be hard when you’re not coping, but even sending a positive emoji can be helpful and appreciated.
My biggest hope is that mental health services will receive the funding that they need to provide adequate treatment and support. In addition to this, I hope that they speed up the process of diagnosing patients and provide treatment before it is too late.
I also hope that those who need help ask for it and understand that they are never alone. There is always someone available to offer support. No matter how busy I am, I am always here for anyone in my life that needs me.
Think I Have It All Together? Guess Again 