Breaking barriers around mental health

Are there still barriers around mental health when it comes to talk about it? Does it still get swept under the carpet secretly hoping it disappears? Are you afraid to tell people about your mental health? Are you scared to listen because you might not be able to help?

Well STOP!!! take a minute, breathe its ok you don't have to worry... I will tell why you don't have to worry.

I have been all the above, At 17 I tried to end my life (AT 17) I tried to end it all because I thought I had no one to turn to (Even though I had my Mum and Dad) When you reach that dark place you could have 1000 people around yet it still feels like you have no one. I took the tablets only for my mum to find me, call an ambulance and to get me back to life.. It worked I am here. My mum asked why did I do it, I said I felt I was alone and had no one. She replied you have me. Those words have stuck with me ever since. I have made it my mission to try and break down these walls surrounding mental health and that its BLOODY OK if you live with mental health. It does not make you weak, it does not make you an outcast, It does not make you less human than others. It makes you unique.

I still live with it, I have dark days, I have light days, I have days I cannot focus, I have days where I am on cloud 9. Embrace it!!

We have heard and seen in the media a lot of celebrities taking their own lives because of negativity, bad press and having toxic people around them.

Take Facebook, Instagram, Twitter for example how many friends to do you as your connections on these platforms and how many are real friends the ones you see at least once or twice per week, yet you get frustrated, annoyed, jealous when you see them post on social media about being on holiday, buying a new car or house, having the best things. This is where it starts... Why get these feelings.. Be content with your life and be happy with what you have got. Social Media is Fake...

If you are in work and feel like you are struggling with mental health, speak to your boss. If they don't want to listen you are working for the wrong company why give them your time, energy and resources. LEAVE.....

If your friends don't want to listen or help you get through your dark periods then remove them from your friends group because they are not your real friends..

Now hear comes the hard bit... listening to someone who needs help with their mental health... We are not professionals, We did not study mental health, How can we advise them???

Remember a problem shared is a problems halved plus its a release mechanism for that person talking.... All you need to do is listening, support them, and be there for them. Try and take their mind of it for a while, go shopping, go to the gym, go swimming, go for a run, go for a walk in the park, anything you do with them be it 30 mins 3 hours will have a positive impact on them.

BOSSES - Embrace mental health. Especially with this pandemic there is a lot more cases.. People with mental health can still be highly successful in their careers within your businesses. Have a support network for your employees.

Lets break down the barriers so we can all help, support and beat mental health.

Feel free to reach out to me to discuss my journey, advice or just for me to listen.