World Mental Health Day [see sidebar]
PLEASE READ SIDEBAR AND COMMENT! (Video response also welcome) Let’s get talking about mental health! Here are the questions I asked my respondents: 1) What kind of problems do you think of when you hear mental health problems? 2) Have you or has someone you know ever suffered from a mental health problem? Did you/they seek help for it? 3) Over 75% suffering mental health problems dont seek help – why do you think this is? 4) Why do you think there is a stigma around mental health? What do you think can be done to help this? Here are a few more discussion points: – Is there a link between physical and mental health? – What keeps you ‘sane’? – What is your opinion on institutional care versus community care? – Do you know any charities or campaigns about mental health that have impressed you? Or maybe you ahve a question about mental health that someone can answer for you? You can also find me on my collab channel: www.youtube.com And on twitter: twitter.com Thank you to my respondents who are, in no particular order: – Kim Knup – Rach Eves – Chris Green – Kayla Turner (youtube.com/kaylasturner) – James Brooks (youtube.com/aslanenlisted) – Katherine Aykroyd SOME LINKS: Suffolk Mental Health: www.smhp.nhs.uk (If you are wondering I do the press releases and the newsletters under News) Suffolk Mental Health’s anti stigma campaigns www.ifyouknew.co.uk Mental health information for all (Readable, user friendly and accurate information about mental health problems) www.rcpsych …
I’m coming back to this video today, basically because I’ve come to terms with the fact that I need help with my own mental health. Just know that your video has made a difference. <3
HEY! My names Kayla Turner too! like seriously. and YES i want a cookie lol.
Thanks! The ‘respecting privacy’ thing is interesting – that we feel people with mental health problems wouldn’t want to discuss their issues. One of our anti stigma campaigns at work – based on true stories – was a woman who broke her hip. Her friends all visited, bought cards, tlaked to her about it. Then she had a breakdown and got not one card and no one visited. I think even if it doesn’t seem like it is helping – being there is the most important thing for people to help themselves.
fantastic vid, thank you!! it wasn’t til college that i met someone open about her mental health and need for support. i was uncomfortable at first because i assumed such things were a private matter, but she helped me understand that that kind of “respecting privacy” can be a dangerous excuse for not dealing with serious issues. i try more than ever now to let friends know i’m here for them. the hardest part’s not knowing if they’ll reach back for help or if my help alone will be enough…
that’s interesting about the activity groups! i didnt even know that sort of thing existed.
i think it is also important to keep a work/life balance. by that i mean doing things with friends and family or maybe just something for oneself,like reading a good book to keep ‘sane’. but then how that will workwilldepend on the problem as well. my friend had a physical illness and couldnt work for 4 months and then started anti-depressannts because it brought them down so much ebing confined to home
It took a while for people to get to the root of my sister’s problems as well. It is tricky with mental health. Last time they gave her a form to fill in – as if ticking yes or no can show if someone is mentally unwell!
Sometimes professional help isn’t that beneficial – but seeking it shows a willingness to be open and honest and I think that is really a key part to getting better.
I am glad that the video made you think – it is doing its job! Thanks for the comment <3
Thank you :) It is interesting what you say about people in cities and lonliness/high rates of stress and depression. I think people working in cities can generally have high pressure jobs where you can’t feel you can show any sign of weakness – certainly not admit to being depressed or anxious etc.
As long as people are taking the right meds for their illness they really do wonders. Some people shy away from them but they really can make a difference.
Thanks for the comment.
I think you are right. I also think that physical fitness is confidence boosting and gives you higher self esteem which are key things in the recovery process. At work the people who are benefitting the most from their treatment seem to be those doing activity groups.
In response to answer 4 we have this new thing starting up where instead of borrowing books at the library in Suffolk you borrow people. So you could ‘borrow’ a living book who had suffered depression and have a chat. Think it is an awesome idea.
I love you too. Thanks for giving me your answers to use. Hearts.
Thank you – and thanks for sending your answers back for me to use :)
Aw thank you. I wish there were easy answers too but there really aren’t/ But talking about things helps. Thanks for watching. Love love love <3
To continue number 2, I should also say that they go to therapy as well. They’ve seen many specialists, but it’s taken quite some to find the root of the problem they face. For their privacy (because I don’t know if they’d want me to type this over YouTube comment), I’ll stop there, but I’d be happy to talk to you in a private conversation about it if you want to know further.
1) I think a lot about major depression also.
2) I do. One of my family members has major depression, and they take medicine to fix the brain imbalance.
3) Like others, I think people don’t seek help, because they don’t think it’s going to help or they’re embarrassed.
4) To help this, I think what you’re doing right now is going to help! Entering the conversation and not being afraid to talk about this with others.
This has really made me think. Thanks, Helen! <3
I live & work in NYC & judging by what I’ve seen I’d say that 99% of the population here has some kind of mental problem. Not trying to be funny because I think a lot of it has to do with stress as well as depression & even loneliness (very common in big cities). Being a creative person (I’m a graphic designer) I tend to have my own nueroses. My cousin has schizophrenia but is fine as long as he takes his meds. I guess people don’t seek help because of denial or shame. Great vid btw.
I do think that these two can be linked or maybe even cause each other. for example,if you have constant back ache you wont be ableto go out much and see your friends and the pain canbringyou down and in the end you could feel depressed,
sametheother way around, haveing negative thoughts has beenlinked to becoming physcially ill. thentheproblemis that the symptoms get treated but never the causeof theillness as this cannot be soon. it is a fragile balance between the two i think.
1) I think of a lot of the typical problems PTSD Depression OCD schizophrenia…
2) Yes… and mostly no.
3) The stigma that is connected to seeking help… like in most things admitting you have a problem is the First and biggest step
4) There will always be stigmas,unfortunately. I think the only thing to help diminish them is for people that have sought help and found it be more outspoken. as in I suffered from this and seeking the correct therapy helped me return or find a balance..
Love you
It has always bothered me that mental health seems to be a touchy subject. It needs to be talked about and people need to be educated.
Great video Helen!
This is a really important video Helen. I want to say something meaningful here but I just don’t have the brainpower to do anything well right now. I will in a day or two. So instead I’m just going to commend you and tell you how I support your ideas and I wish I had some easy answers for your questions.