I seem to be having mixed emotions leading up to World Mental Health Day this Saturday, October 10th. I whole heartedly welcome the world-wide recognition of mental health awareness, but my mixed emotions are more to do with the theme that is being empathised this year; ‘Dignity’ regarding one’s Mental Health.
What does that even mean?
Dignity sounds almost foreign to my ears. For a huge chunk of my life this word was void and meaningless because of the literal highs and lows of having Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder or as I would loathingly refer to them, ‘My Darkness’.
Life was much harder to decipher and translate for both myself and the people around me. Putting a name to what I had and figuring out how I could function and move forward regardless of the barriers placed before me, seemed near implausible.
Many times in my life I have fallen, but none more damaging and long lasting as the one in 2005, which took close to four years to recover from marginally and begin a newer journey. I was totally drained and left a shell of who I once was. My sense of dignity was completely taken away and not just at my own hands. There were many contributing to this lessening of me.
Family and friends couldn’t understand the depth of my pain. This was a blessing and a curse. I was thankful no one knew personally of this darkness and then there were moments when I wished someone would just say, ‘I Understand’.
Then there were some individuals, Doctors, Psychiatrists and a few nurses who were incapable of understanding me or the many others placed in their care. I could rant and rave about inactions, ignorant remarks and poor judgment found throughout my mental health journey but I won’t.
As individuals with a mental disorder or whether you are a partner, parent, friend or a co-worker, there needs to be a change in thought as to how to approach, engage and treat people with a mental health disorder.
We need our care givers to better understand what the diagnosis is for each individual rather than just label us, whilst handing the prescription over. Education and knowledge is key. We need to break away from the norm of psychiatry, the same old questions being asked, being moved along on some drug conveyer belt, being shuffled through the system without proper care.
How we deal with mental health challenges in this country is flawed and need changing urgently. Real engagement, honest dialogue and meaningful conversations are so badly needed in all aspects of society, from a professional perspective as well as day to day living. Mental wellbeing should be one of the most important things on people’s agenda. Without it all else fails.
Pure ignorance, misconceptions, inherent bias and outrageous notions are common place in society, as are fears, stereotypes and the stigma that is damaging to mental health issues and hold people back from seeking help.
Before I joined See Change, an Irish organisation that confronts the stigma surrounding mental health and became an Ambassador, I thought it but a mere day-dream to be able to speak up about my own issues and talk about my journey through My Darkness. My goal is to help others through theirs.
But here I am, not just writing about it, I also talk openly about it with groups of people and on occasions, lend my voice to the air-waves via the radio to open up a much needed conversation on our mental wellbeing.
We live in a time of many uncertainties and distractions, but the one thing that I am sure of is that not only is there a great need for help, but there are so many different groups and organisations out there doing everything in their power to see that people get that help.
As for the system that is in place now, improvements are happening and political word play and promises being made are under scrutiny, and those making them are beginning to be held accountable.
In the end, dignity can be found through the simplest of things. The way you talk and treat someone, to the grandest of gestures like standing up and talking about your own experiences and concerns.
We as individuals and as a collective group can change things, improve things and make sure that with each generation, improvements are made and expectations exceeded. What could happen if we replace words such as can’t, won’t or try? Replacing them with can, will and do! One word can change the meaning of a simple thought. Imagine if the word ‘dignity’ was embedded in our mental health vocabulary and became the foundation for how everyone’s mental health challenges were cared for?
Support Our Campaign
We rely on the generosity of the public to fund our work and so far together we have achieved great things! Please do continue to support us so we can provide future generations in Ireland with the resources to recognise and talk about their emotions, and equip them to navigate the ever-changing world around them as they grow
