AIBU in thinking Theresa May is massively lacking in empathy?

[hellowembley]

Theresa May & fellow tories going on about improving mental health services for the past few days. She goes on Radio 5 Live this morning to do an interview about it. The presenter's final question was along the lines of 'maintaining mental health is important for everyone... what do you do to care for your mental health?' - giving the PM a massive in to display some humanity and empathy, i thought. Her response... 'i'm one of those people who just gets on with it.' I mean....

YABU. How can you assatain somebody's empathy levels, based on one answer?

She is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't.

YABU

I think she was put on the spot and answered as neutrally as she could in that moment. I imagine that, with forethought, she would have phrased it differently so as not to imply that those with MH issues don't just get on with it.
She is a national leader. She has to appear to be strong, whatever the truth of the matter.
As a vicar's daughter, I am optimistic the PM has empathy.

If she "just gets on with it" then she hasn't struggled with mental health issues serious enough to require treatment. You don't just get on with bipolar or schizophrenia or major depression. The implication is that most people with mental health issues can "just get on with it" if they can be bothered.

If someone asked me "how do you manage your blood sugar", I'd say "well I'm not diabetic so it isn't a major issue for me" not "I just get on with it".

I say this as someone with only minor MH issues which I can "just get on with".

Politicians absolutely cannot win. If they only come out with scripted soundbites we call them fake, if they occasionally say something less than perfect we pick it apart and make the worst possible interpretation of it.

Some of the kindest people I know are hopeless with money and couldnt run a hot dog stand. Some of the most uptight, hard faced gits I know successfully employ people thus allowing them to provide for their families. I don't give a shit how warm and empathic TM is, nobody expects male politicians to discuss their private health issues in a touchy feely way. She just needs to do her job.

It wasn't a great question to be asked but I hate the implication that those with mental health issues can and should just 'get on with it' and if they don't they are somehow not trying hard enough.

I have spent the last few years of my life trying to 'get on with it' but I recently reached my breaking point and had no choice but to seek help. Trying to get on with things, aka brushing things under the carpet, often makes the problem worse.

She was asked how she cares for her own mental health and replied that she just gets on with it. Where does that imply she thinks others should do the same? Or judges them? Seems to me there's a lot more judging going on here

It's a very difficult question for her to answer, because if she had answered that she did anything the Guardian papers would have twisted it and presented it as 'May not coping with pressures of Brexit as she admits to taking long walks to ease mental health pressures'.

But I do actually think 'getting on with it' is a very good way of easing mental health problems and one which a lot of people use. I suffer very badly from depression and anxiety and it is the most effective method for me. Going to work, keeping the house tidy, pursuing interests. 'Getting on with it' does me a power of good, if I neglect it or don't keep busy I tend to falter. It's also a good sign I am getting ill (so a bit of a chicken and egg situation).