The stigma of mental health?

When writing you’re often taught to make engaging, impactful statements to capture an audience. This one comes quite easy;

Raise your hand if you suffer from mental health. That’ll be almost one in two of you. Unfortunately or maybe thankfully, 46% of Australian’s regularly seek mental health support. [1] However, 54% of Australian’s with mental health issues go untreated. [2] Given this, it’s no wonder mental health influenced suicide is the biggest killer in males under the age of 45. Yet, for every death, it is estimated thirty more have attempted it. [3]

Hard-hitting enough?

I write this as someone who is in that 46%. As someone who has had mental health highs and lows for in excess of twenty years and will continue to do so. That’s a statement many are scared to make. Yet, if it was an ongoing physical illness would we be so afraid of exposing it?

Often I was told that I should “snap out of it” or do as we’re taught throughout life and “stop being a girl, don’t cry, be a man”. Within these statements, it’s easy to understand why stigma exists and we don’t seek the support we need. However, no matter what path we choose to take in life, emotional support from others only helps us achieve goals and aspirations, and what bigger goal is there than mental stability?

While I appreciate everyone’s journey is different and writing from a position of current stability, undeniably mental health needs more sunlight, more candour, and more unashamed conversation to break down the barriers of acceptance, here’s an insight into the steps I’ve taken (and sometimes relapsed) to bring me to where I am today;

Initially, I sought psychiatric support, closely followed by psychological support and a handful of drugs. This doesn’t resolve it all though; I regularly have to practice mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy or reasoning and finally lifestyle and life choices to ensure I adhere to personal values. These life practices probably may make me uncool, maybe a bit boring, but it keeps me healthy.

Finally, I’d like to extend my support, confidentially, through any communicative means necessary as you’re never alone.

Ian.

[1] Whiteford, H. A., Buckingham, W. J., Harris, M. G., Burgess, P. M., Pirkis, J. E., Barendregt, J. J., & Hall, W. D. (2014). Estimating treatment rates for mental disorders in Australia. Australian Health Review, 38, 80–85.

[2] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2014). Australia’s Health 2014. AIHW: Canberra.

[3] Lifeline. (nd). Statistics on Suicide in Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.lifeline.org.au/about-lifeline/lifeline-information/statistics-on-suicide-in-australia.