People in Teesside encouraged to not bottle up emotions and talk to others
People are asked to reach out for help
A former mental health nurse from Teesside is encouraging people not to bottle up their emotions.
63 year-old Lawrence Butterfield from Guisborough struggled with his own mental health and tells us that not sharing his feelings led to him breaking down .
Now, he is urging anyone struggling - especially men - to reach out for help. He said: “Younger men seem so much more expressive than they were 40 years ago. Maybe that’s because there’s more spaces where they feel comfortable talking about their mental health now.
"When I was younger, there was a ‘macho’ attitude among men. You felt like you had to be ‘strong’, which meant it was hard to say if you were struggling. I was still learning about myself and trying to figure things out. But as I grew, I gained more self-awareness and a greater sense of my identity. I realised it was OK to be honest about how I was feeling. So, I started to let my guard down and show vulnerability.
"One of the things which really helps my anxiety and depression is going to the gym and talking to the people there. I always try to bring mental health into casual conversations in gym classes. It’s a very therapeutic, supportive and reassuring environment.”
Lawrence lived with experience of depression and anxiety
He regularly has conversations with people in the gym and in the town about mental health. He says he knows that stigma is a barrier to many people having conversations – especially men in the North East – which is why he tries to encourage conversations at the gym.
He often does this in the gym changing rooms and in group classes. He also goes on walks with a friend in the Moors where they chat about mental health. He says the wilderness is a quiet, conducive space to speak honestly and get things off his chest, without being disturbed.
He struggled to talk about his mental health when he was younger, but as he's got older it has got much easier.
New research
New research released reveals just over 3 in 5 people surveyed in the North East (61 percent) say they put a brave face on to avoid talking about their mental health.
- A third (33 percent) of people surveyed in the North East say the pressures of the last few years, for instance the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis has made them less likely to open up to avoid worrying others in difficult times.
- Almost half (47 percent) of respondents in the North East say that the cost-of-living crisis has impacted their mental health, ahead of the news cycle and world affairs (22 percent) and the pandemic (15 percent).
- Work also takes a toll (19 percent) as well as relationships (20 percent), suggesting that things closer to home are affecting many people right now.
The survey was done by Censuswide for mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.
Dr Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive of Mind, said “Our survey highlights that too often, we put a brave face on and tell people we’re fine when we’re not because we’re worried about being a burden during difficult times. But bottling things up is only making things worse. Talking about our mental health can help us feel less alone, more able to cope, and encouraged to seek support if we need to."
Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said: “This survey reveals the worrying trend that at a time of such upheaval, people are pretending they are fine because they don’t want to worry others.
"Many are even isolating away, leading their mental health to take a turn for the worse. We all need support from other people to get through challenging times, and speaking to someone you trust can be the first step towards feeling more like yourself again.
"Start a conversation about mental health, whether that’s opening up about something you’ve been struggling with, or asking someone in your life how they’re doing, twice.”
To find support locally, visit the Hub of Hope website.