World Mental Health Day + PTSD

Following on from my last post on OCD, my latest blog coincides with the upcoming World Mental Health Day on the 10th October. We’ve recently held our annual charity day for Mind and successfully raised ￡6,228.26 which can hopefully go towards continually raising awareness and acceptance of mental health.

According to an estimate by mentalhealth.org.uk, one in six people in the UK has experienced a mental health problem over the past week. The important word here is ‘estimate’. That being said, an independent study has indicated the figure could be much higher; as high as 75%! This post however isn’t about the one in six, nor the larger 75%. Instead, I’m focusing on one particular disease: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

To open this up for discussion, I’d like to start by mentioning Donald Trump. I’ll refrain from posting on his political views or his recent debates, but I will share this story in which he’s suggested that some members of the military develop mental health issues because they are not "strong" and "can't handle it".

The idea that you can ridicule or marginalise something as damaging as PTSD is utterly insulting to anyone who has fought for their country.

According to Mind, PTSD is a term used to describe the psychological problems resulting from any traumatic event. This isn’t purely focused on armed forces personnel, but for the context of this article it’s where my focus will remain.

Instances of PTSD referrals from forces veterans are on the increase. This could be down to people becoming more comfortable coming forward and speaking about their problems. Unfortunately, I know from speaking with people who help sufferers that there are still those who feel they are somehow weak for letting it affect them.

Sticking with the negatives for a moment, it is not hard to find stories which indicate that PTSD sufferers aren’t given the support they need.

I have spoken to several current and former military personnel, however, who argued that those who don’t get the help they need are rarely left unaided due to malice. Instead, like any support service, there isn’t enough money nor personnel to make it work without fail. Inevitably, and disastrously, people will fall through the system.

Clearly, more money is needed for providers of mental health support but it isn’t being given. I’ve spoken previously about the lack of funding in supported housing. The clients I work with are being asked to do more for less every day, though the services they provide are still exceptional, especially when you consider the level of pay they receive.

Whilst we wait for that to change, raising awareness (and money!) will certainly help.

Referring back to the start of this article, The University of Birmingham are holding a series of events to raise awareness of mental illness on the 10th October at The Barber Institute of Fine Arts on the Edgbaston campus. This includes a mental wellbeing exhibition featuring University services, external charities and organisations that specialise in the area of mental health. These include Mind, Samaritans, Birmingham Healthy Minds, Birmingham and Solihull NHS Mental Health Foundation Trust and Creative Support Birmingham Hub & Spoke Service.

Members of the public are welcome to visit the exhibition and The Barber Gallery, which is also free to enter.

Alternatively, if you do need help or just a confidential conversation, please contact your local Mind representatives by going to their website (www.mind.org.uk) and looking for your local office.