Calls for people to speak up about mental health
Nearly two thirds of people in South Yorkshire with a mental health problem say they've been made to feel isolated, worthless and ashamed.
Nearly two thirds of people in South Yorkshire with a mental health problem say they've been made to feel isolated, worthless and ashamed.
The figures have been revealed as people here are being encouraged as part of the "Time to Change" campaign, to help tackle the issue simply by talking about it more.
Doncaster dad Andy Hollinghurst was a headteacher but after he had a breakdown and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety he had to give up his teaching career.
He's told Hallam FM that he's been made to feel all of those things, especially after one meeting he had to discuss his incapacity benefits:
** "The person assessing me wouldn’t make eye contact with me’, he says ‘they asked inappropriate questions: could I wash myself? Could I clothe myself? Could I answer a telephone? In the end, I said: ‘why would I put myself through this if I was healthy?’
- "I came out and I just thought how much lower can I get. I'm proud. I did feel quite discriminated against and quite upset about it."
- He also added that if he'd known more about mental health he could have got help sooner:
** "In a job like teaching, or a headteacher, you're there in charge and you see it as a weakness and a sign of failure. Particularly with men they're very proud, but if I'd have recognised it and known about it I could have it dealt with a long time before. Perhaps I wouldn't have got to the crisis I finally got to.
- "The education about mental health is so poor many people don't actually know they're suffering until they get to the point when they can't work any more.
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- "There is still quite a big stigma attached, particularly at a corporate level where it's seen a sign of failure and people don't know how to deal with it either. I think simply being able to talk and have a conversation about it is the first step."
- He's been campaigning for several years and says there has been some progress in tackling discrimination though.
Despite the devastating effects of stigma, a new survey - the biggest of its kind - found progress has been made with over half of respondents in Yorkshire saying it’s easier to talk about mental health problems than in previous years.
Over 50% of people also said they felt better once they did start to talk about their mental health problems, saying they felt relieved and like a weight had been lifted.
Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, said:
** "This survey shows that stigma is still having a huge impact on how people feel about themselves and holding back their lives. We have got to continue to make progress, show that mental health isn’t something to be ashamed of and tackle the causes of stigma and discrimination.
- "Having a day when we encourage the nation to talk about mental health collectively can give people the confidence to have these conversations and show that you don’t have to be an expert on mental health. We need to replace silence and stigma with talking, greater understanding and support."
There's more information about Time to Talk Day online.