To think it’s incredibly sad that there’s still such a huge stigma against mental health issues?

Many don’t get the specialist care they need so treatable conditions turn into harder to treat conditions.

They didn’t live through wars. Those in their 80s were born at the end of the war. They didn’t have to cope with half of what young people do now.

Oh really. I didn’t have a lot of choice in how I dealt with it as I was sectioned and locked up in a psychiatric hospital for a year.

That generation probably well understood things that could cause MH issues, if they lived through wars.

They just dealt with it differently. 🤷‍♀️

True @Str0ganoff but @Imanexcellentdrivercharliebabbit’s point still stands that it’s concerning when people reject any advice on how to mitigate symptoms. It’s not helping them in the long run.

Well it would minimise and not be much help for many mental health difficulties such as CPTSD,trauma from abuse, EDs, severe OCD etc

They wouldn’t get PIP for just a bit of anxiety.

@BruFord I imagine the younger generation with anxiety will expect to continue to get DLA &/or PIP and so won’t need to worry about supporting themselves 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes I work with young people and it’s a badge of honour for some -certainly how many define themselves ,

@Imanexcellentdrivercharliebabbit That’s concerning, because to use physical illness as an analogy, no one would wear cancer as a badge of honour, for example.

Most people who are suffering from an illness, whether mental or physical, fight it with everything they’ve got, don’t they. There are exceptions, of course, but most do whatever they can to make their illness disappear.

Young people choosing not to fight MH conditions is very worrying, because how will they cope long term? Support from their parents, for example, can’t continue indefinitely, parents get older and may need support themselves.

Yes I work with young people and it’s a badge of honour for some -certainly how many define themselves , and god forbid any of us should proffer any advice around diet /exercise /limiting screen time or scrolling or socials / finding positive or enrichment activities such as volunteering or outward bound etc lest we are ‘minimising’ their lived experience and being meany bullies.

I think it’s become much more acceptable socially to say you have MH issues. It seems to be commonplace.

I don’t think work colleagues should need to know why you’re off work. It could be anything from flu to endometriosis.

It’s always inconvenient for colleagues covering no matter what your issue.

This will sound unsympathetic but people with depression can be a bit self absorbed & find it hard to think about other people’s needs when they’re having a bad time.

It has always astounded me that this sort of info was made public knowledge in the workplace anyway.
If a supervisor told us a colleague was off sick, we always got told what was wrong with them. I hope times have changed now as that seems like private information that no one should be privy to.

I agree it’s less stigmatised.

The issue is that everyone goes through periods of anxiety/ sadness/ loneliness unlike breaking bones or using a wheelchair or physical illnesses. It’s the same with chronic fatigue and long Covid.
It’s always going to be less regarded than cancer or bouts of one of illness,

I disagree completely, @Theboredpanda .

When I was first diagnosed with depression 45 years ago, my mum would die a thousand deaths rather than admit that was what was wrong. When I told my aunt the entire family was appalled.

My GP wrote something else on my sick note so my employer wouldn't fire me.

Th stigma around mental health is nothing compared to what it was in the past. It's openly discussed and widely known about. My own children's mental health problems have been completely different to my experience at their ages, thank goodness.

It's fine to tell people you have depression or acute anxiety, and employers make reasonable adjustments where possible rather than getting rid immediately.

I think the awkwardness people feel around any form of severe health issue is what you're describing. My friend said she noticed it around her cancer and another friend losing her sight said th same. People don't know what to say and are tense and awkward.

I do hope you're feeling better soon, though.

I agree that as a society, we need to feel less awkward about mental health conditions @Theboredpanda , because as you say, they’re illnesses just like physical illnesses.

I think people still fear them though and worry about saying/doing the wrong thing- whereas if you had a broken leg, they’d know how to be supportive.

At least we’re more open about MH than we were in the past.

This plus other peoples illness is not my business.
I never ask people why they are off sick and prefer it if they dont tell me.

But, by all means, take my place and blithely announce to colleagues that you have psychosis. Then confidently declare the lack of stigma.

@Youmustwakeup I’m so sorry that you’re struggling with this horrible illness. 💐 I agree with you that there’s an ongoing stigma regarding psychosis. Frankly, I think it’s because people are terrified of it.

I think people are more open about mild-moderate anxiety and depression, OCD etc. If you have a serious mental illness, you could not be more wrong.

I assure you there is a HUGE stigma to psychosis.

But, by all means, take my place and blithely announce to colleagues that you have psychosis. Then confidently declare the lack of stigma.

Or otherwise.

I know what you mean, but in my experience it’s more social awkwardness than stigma.
It’s like when somebody experiences a bereavement, or any other sad thing that is personal and unique to them. Others don’t know what to say. It’s awkward.

What would you like your colleagues to say, OP? Genuinely keen to know because I have a colleague who I know is depressed, but we’re not close enough to have a personal conversation about it and I have felt the professional and respectful thing to do so far is to just carry on as normal and not bring it up. I suppose I thought that they might not welcome prying questions and are probably just trying to get on with work like everyone else. But maybe they see this as insensitive? It’s so difficult to know what to do.

ETA: sorry just seen your recent post where you answered this!

I think people are overwhelmed by others’ MH issues and genuinely have no idea what to say or do @Theboredpanda

My Dad has lifelong MH problems and now that he’s widowed, he pours out all his feelings to me. I have absolutely no idea what to say when he says he’s suicidal and severely depressed. What exactly can I say? All I can do is listen, I’m not trained in this field and have no solutions. I also found him once after an attempt (I was a teenager) and it’s scarred me.

I’m diagnosed with GAD so in order to keep my anxiety at bay, I try to compartmentalize my feelings when he’s like this or I’ll start going downhill too.

It’s very difficult to navigate @Theboredpanda. Personally, I don’t share my anxiety with my family much, only with professionals as I don’t want to burden my DH and children, they can’t really help me. I wouldn’t tell colleagues as they can’t help me either.

I think there is an overall MH fatigue to be honest. It's become a buzz word and excuse for too many, meaning those who are genuinely suffering just get an eyeroll instead of the support and kindness that they deserve.

A bit like those who had back bads in the 80s/90s. And fibromyalgia/long covid/post viral fatigue more recently. All things that can be diagnosed without actual proof. I'm not saying it's right, at all, but I can see why it's happening.

I think the stigma of mental health issues is actually lower than ever. Many people are very open about their conditions and their treatments imo.

Stablise the crisis with medication and crisis care (usually a crisis team), and psychosocial intervention. Referral to talking therapy, debt management services any other support services.

The NHS MH services know exactly where the money is needed, they just haven’t got the money to invest it.

OP, I’m really sorry you are struggling. Do you feel like you could reach out to some local charities that have activities etc for people with mental health illness? Or look for some peer support groups? It won’t make up for the stigma you are struggling with, but at least you’ll have some people who get it. Any support is better than no support. Community is such an underrated commodity when you are struggling with your mental health.