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Original poster

You do not have to be rich to have a breakdown

159 replies

UndertheCedartree · 04/07/2026 17:38

I heard this recently - you have to be rich to have a breakdown. Meaning that those who are not wealthy have to 'just get on with it.' They can't have a mental breakdown as they have to work etc.

I really disagree with this. I had a serious mental breakdown and I can assure people that psychiatric hospitals are not full of wealthy people. I think this narrative is really dangerous as it makes people think they 'don't have time' to look after their mental health and the trouble is this then means a serious breakdown is more likely and at that point it is really not a choice. When you get sectioned you don't get a choice as to if you 'want' to have a breakdown or not as you need to work.

I think this also disproportionately affects women as there is the added narrative that you have to 'just get on with it' with the home and children. The truth is there are many mothers in hospital like I was.

I encourage people to choose to look after their mental health as otherwise you may end up being forced to look after it. Obviously, I'm not saying that you can always prevent these things but early intervention seems to have better outcomes.

OP posts:
Backedoffhackedoff · 04/07/2026 17:59

I’ve never heard this either.

although I agree with you that being admitted to hospital fits the definition of breakdown far more than a few days off work with stress.

JJkate · 04/07/2026 17:58

Can anyone tell me what a breakdown actually is? I don't understand what it means.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 04/07/2026 17:58

Frequency · 04/07/2026 17:53

It trivialises MH issues as something you could "get over" if you had to, which is absolutely not true, and probably where people get the idea that there are hundreds of thousands of people who are just a bit sad and worried getting PIP.

My DD has severe anxiety, which has had her housebound in the past for months at a time. It winds me up no end when people talk about anxiety as though it's made up/you could get over it if you really wanted to.

I agree. I'm sorry about your daughter and I hope she is getting some help and support.

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 04/07/2026 17:57

Breakdown in this context doesn’t mean sectioned. It means anything from taking a few days to yourself to getting signed off work.

someone on a zero hours contract can’t exactly get signed off for stress and still get paid.

Weeellokthen · 04/07/2026 17:56

Where did you "hear" this nonsense 😉

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 04/07/2026 17:55

BringBackCatsEyes · 04/07/2026 17:46

Being held under a Section is obviously extreme. I think maybe people mean that if you don’t have to worry about earning a living you can take yourself off for a spa week or “get away from it all”, and that some people say it’s to stop themselves having a break down. Break down not meaning being Sectioned but worn out.

Maybe some mean that. But this wasn't the context used. It was people saying you have to be rich to essentially be so mentally unwell you can't work/care for children/be hospitalised. Loads of people saying how mentally unwell they were but 'had to get on with it'.

Personally, I think if you can still work and look after children and function and aren't being hospitalised you aren't maybe as unwell as you think. I don't mean that nastily or to suggest more moderate mental illness isn't something to take seriously, to deserve empathy, support and treatment. Just that perhaps most people don't really understand what it is like to be so mentally unwell that you need to be hospitalised sometimes for years and it really isn't something people choose as they don't need to work or whatever.

OP posts:
Frequency · 04/07/2026 17:53

It trivialises MH issues as something you could "get over" if you had to, which is absolutely not true, and probably where people get the idea that there are hundreds of thousands of people who are just a bit sad and worried getting PIP.

My DD has severe anxiety, which has had her housebound in the past for months at a time. It winds me up no end when people talk about anxiety as though it's made up/you could get over it if you really wanted to.

AgnesMcDoo · 04/07/2026 17:47

I’ve never heard this. And it’s obviously not true.

BringBackCatsEyes · 04/07/2026 17:46

Being held under a Section is obviously extreme. I think maybe people mean that if you don’t have to worry about earning a living you can take yourself off for a spa week or “get away from it all”, and that some people say it’s to stop themselves having a break down. Break down not meaning being Sectioned but worn out.