So, I was asked in a message what my concerns where about mental health issues. It took me by surprise and made me stop and think. I have been thinking about it all day. I have come up with some concerns and the reasons they concern me.
Concerns
Not being believed
Not getting the right help
Getting ridiculed
No understanding
Not being believed
One of my fears of coming clean with my mental illness is that people will say that it is all in my head and that I need to get over it. I often think that myself, but to have someone else say it would be devastating.
Not getting the right help
One of my biggest fears is not getting the help that I so desperately need to overcome and combat this deadful illness. This concern was a reality just a few months ago (and for the 2.5 yrs preceding). I was passed from pillar to post in the community mental health team and I never got the help that I needed.
Getting ridiculed
Another fear of mine is to get ridiculed by family and friends and being thought of as a mental nutter. I don’t want to be classed as a mental nutter. You wouldn’t class someone with cancer as disease ridden and not a person of worth, therefore you shouldn’t do the same for someone with mental health. There are various types of mental illnesses, for which no-one should be ridiculed.
No understanding
Another of the concerns I have is the lack of understanding when it comes to mental health issues. Everyone needs to be aware of mental illness and what that means. They don’t understand that it may happen to them at some point. A greater understanding would make society a better place to be.
Another thing that has made me concerned about mental illness, is the lack of understanding from those in power. I sent an email off to the Labour party to find out what their policy is on mental and health and how they plan to move forward with it. I got a reply and, worringly, it said that 1 in 6 would suffer from a mental health problem. This alarms me as the statistics are far greater with 1 in 4 suffering. If the government can’t get it right, then there really is no hope for anyone.