From our Community Correspondent Edward Davies
I read an article recently on what things people ‘shouldn’t say to depressed people.’ It got me thinking about how subconsciously naive outside viewers can be on mental health issues. It is about time that stopped.
The tragic loss of Hollywood legend Robin Williams to depression just highlights how ignorant our society can be of it. Some recent tabloid coverage of Williams and his personal issues made me sick to my stomach.
Quite frankly, not only do those who suffer from mental illness suffer enough as it is, but when others choose to use it as a weapon or an excuse for us to ‘man up’ and ‘get on with it’ just makes it that much worse.
No, I do not want to ‘look on the bright side of life’.
No, I cannot just simply ‘grow up and deal with it’.
I feel frustrated and disgusted with the contempt and ignorance that some people show towards mental health. I for one, will be fighting to stamp this out. I’ve spent a long time dealing with this myself, so it got me thinking, what advice would I give to other people facing the same. Here’s my top tips.
- If your so called ‘friends’ treat you like an invalid or like something different, do the same to them.
- I think that humour has to be sensitive. To me, direct humour towards anything mental health related has to be regulated.
- If you are scared to hide how you are feeling from certain people, then they probably aren’t worth trusting with your darkest secrets. But then again, mental health can be so overpowering that we cannot even tell those we DO trust.
What about you? What helps you deal with stigma, and what advice would you give to other people?
Well said Edward. I deal with my bipolar in a different way. I use and see it as a positive and a part of who I am. Okay I have lived with being different since a child. It wasn’t till I was 25 entered the psychiatric system, at first in England but I am still and always will need meds and a psychiatrist to turn to when things get tough. However I know only too well about the highs (extreme) and lows (severe depression). I am committed to supporting Scotland’s anti stigma campaign having been involved since the start in 2002. Am now part of the Advisory Panel as ‘see me’ moves into the next phase. So do get involved. The website is the place to start