Ending the stigma surrounding mental health
Content Note: this page makes a brief reference to suicide in the context of mental health data in the UK.
Despite all of the positive steps that have been taken recently, with more and more public figures talking openly about their mental health, unfortunately there is still a way to go before mental health is treated and discussed in the same way as physical health.
Historically, mental health wasn’t talked about, and unhealthy stereotypes like ‘boys don’t cry’ or ‘girls are just too sensitive’ fed into the idea that we had to behave a certain way and not tell anyone if we were struggling, for fear of being labelled ‘weak’ or ‘mad’.
Now we’ve begun to acknowledge that mental health is a spectrum and that we are all somewhere on it: it’s not as simple as either being mentally ill or not. There will be times in life or even each day, when we feel low, anxious or unhappy; this affects everybody. However in some cases, this lasts longer and can become more serious, requiring support such as counselling or medication. You don’t need to be formally diagnosed by a doctor with a mental illness to be struggling or to seek help – you know best how you feel and we’d encourage you to seek help as soon as possible.
5 Reasons why mental health affects everyone:
- In the last week, an estimated 1 in 6 people in the UK experienced a common mental health issue.
- In any given year, roughly 1 in 4 people will have a mental health problem of some kind.
- During their lifetime, on average 1 in 15 people attempt suicide.
- In England, each week around 8% of people experience a mixture of anxiety and depression.
- Between 1993 and 2014, the number of people in the UK suffering from common mental health issues rose by a fifth.
Source: Mind UK
What is mental health?
Mental health is your state of mind; if your mental health is good, you feel able to manage your thoughts and emotions to live how you want. If it is poor, you may find it hard to think clearly, to handle ranging emotions and to go about everyday life as you’d like.
Historically it was thought that mental illness was purely biological and genetically inherited; this has not been proven, with the exception of certain conditions like schizophrenia, which can run in families (if a parent has it, you’re more likely to develop it yourself). Even though scientists now believe that biology is not as influential as your circumstances and experiences when it comes to determining your risk of mental health problems, it is true that some conditions are associated with biological flags, such as an imbalance of chemicals in our brains or bodies.
For example, depression can be related to our brain chemistry: in winter many people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, as the lack of sunlight means they have lower levels of serotonin which is key to regulating our moods and happiness. Similarly, depression is more common among those who’ve recently given birth as they undergo extreme hormone changes, called postnatal depression.
What causes mental ill-health?
Rather than genetics, mental illnesses are far more likely to be triggered by circumstances such as:
- Social disadvantage or inequality,
- Social isolation and loneliness,
- Social exclusion
- Losing someone close to you,
- Suffering abuse or trauma,
- Having a long-term physical health condition or caring for somebody with one,
- Homeless or worries about rent, money, debt,
- Unemployment or job insecurity,
- Drug and alcohol misuse.
Any or all of these factors can contribute to poor mental health.
Who is more vulnerable?
Absolutely anyone can struggle with their mental health, although the factors listed above (such as inequality, discrimination, social pressures or exclusion, trauma, physical illness) which make mental health issues more prevalent among certain groups.
According to Mind UK:
- LGBTIQ+ people are 2–3 times more likely to report having a mental health problem in England.
- Black or Black British people: 23% of Black or Black British people will experience a common mental health problem in any given week, compared to 17% of White British people.
- Young women aged 16-24: 26% of young women aged 16–24 report having a common mental health problem in any given week. This compares to 17% of adults.
- Multiple disadvantage: each year roughly 40% of people in England who have overlapping problems including homelessness, substance misuse & contact with the criminal justice system also have a mental health problem.
Just because you fall into one or more of these groups it doesn’t mean that you will inevitably have poor mental health, it simply means that the risk that you might is slightly higher. Likewise, just because you don’t fit into one of these categories it doesn’t mean that you won’t ever struggle with your mental health.
What will happen if I seek help?
If you’re worried about how people will react, go to a trained professional like a doctor, or even a teacher you trust. Adults in positions of authority have a responsibility to help you, and probably lots of experience helping others in a similar situation.
If you don’t want your family or friends to know, you can find anonymous support via chat-services such as Childline. Likewise, counsellors are bound by confidentiality to respect your privacy, and will only share what you’ve said if they are concerned that you might do yourself harm.
What will happen if I tell people?
Opening up about your mental health can be tricky; you don’t have to tell people if you don’t want to, but it can be useful to let your friends know: they can try to support you, and won’t get cross or misunderstand if you feel or act differently and struggle to socialise sometimes. You can ask them not to share what you’ve told them; if you’re worried about this, make sure you only tell people you trust, and be clear about who you are happy for them to talk about it with.
If you tell someone or someone finds out and they act in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or threatened, whether it’s asking too many intrusive questions or behaving aggressively and bullying you, tell someone immediately. No one should ever be shamed or made to explain their mental health.
If you ask them to stop and they refuse, try to avoid spending time with this person; the worst thing would be for you to get into an argument or fight and end up in trouble yourself. Just as if this happened at work, this is discrimination and they should be punished.
What should I do if someone tells me about their mental health?
This person has shown a lot of trust in you: honour it; don’t tell others (unless they say that you can or you’re worried for their safety) and try to listen without forcing them to share more than they feel able to. You can find more advice on looking out for someone experiencing mental health issues here.
About Us
The general aim and objective of Head Up! is to promote the interests of young people with disabilities, physical and/or mental health conditions, specific learning difficulties and neurodivergence; offering them practical advice and support concerning their education and welfare.