#TimeToTalk
Hello!
This year, Time to Change (TTC) will be working in partnership, with I’m NOT Disordered on a exclusive series of projects for Time To Talk Day (TTD) on February 2nd.
Can you tell us about the greatest
(most positive, beneficial, encouraging, supportive etc) talk you’ve had with
another person regarding mental health?
Questions completed by Angela Slater, Community Equalities
Co-ordinator, Time To Change
Can you tell us about the worst
(least helpful, most upsetting, anger-provoking etc) talk you’ve had with
another person regarding mental health?
Since joining Time to Change I find that most conversations
about mental health are useful even if the person’s attitude towards mental
health is negative as I know I is not personal and is a result of stigma. I
really enjoy the conversations talking to people who in the past I would have
found offensive as I see it as a real opportunity to raise awareness and
challenge stigma and prejudice which is always great.
However I had an
experience around a year ago where my GP dismissed a physical health issue
based on my mental health experience. Later that day I ended up in hospital for
a week due to my physical health after being told by my GP to go home and ‘calm
down’ (in a patronising tone). This really upset me at the time. I know that
many people do not always get the appropriate physical health care if they
experience mental health problems. This was difficult as they were in a
position of power over my health and I was in a lot of pain and fear.
Can you tell us about the greatest
(most positive, beneficial, encouraging, supportive etc) talk you’ve had with
another person regarding mental health?
I feel like in my role at Time to Change I have had so many
that it is difficult to pin one down. I really enjoy it when you are talking to
people and the ‘penny drops’ and they start to understand the reality rather
than the myths of mental health. I also know though just because a person may
leave a conversation seemingly no different that there won’t be a change
further down the line. These things can be accumulative as well as immediate.
Finally, list three reasons why you
think people should talk about mental health:
1. Because
it affects everybody- we all have mental health. Sometimes it’s good ,
sometimes it’s not-just like physical health.
2. Because
not talking about it makes people feel alone, isolated and ashamed and
sometimes unable to seek the help that they need.
3. Because stigma affects every area of people’s lives- their
relationships, work, studies, community life etc. This has a very limiting
impact on peoples lives.
