Across the globe, people was striking up conversations about mental health. It was all over Twitter, trending across the world, and was being talked about on news channels and radio stations everywhere. Even Wills and Kate got involved, visiting an anti-stigma event in London, talking to young people about their experiences of mental health problems.
It was fantastic seeing so many conversations taking place, the awareness that was being raised, the stigma that was being crushed by the power of conversation. Yet we still have so far to go in terms of equality for those with a mental health illness.
The theme for this year's World Mental Health Day is 'Dignity in Mental Health.' But what does that mean exactly? What does 'having dignity' look like for the individual? How can we make it better for those living with a mental health condition?
The definition of the word 'dignity', according to the Oxford Dictionary, is 'the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect'. When I read that sentence, I find it hard to digest that in 2015, there are individuals who wouldn't consider those suffering with mental illness worthy of respect, able to live in a society where they have freedom from being discriminated, abused or stigmatised against. But the reality is very different, and you don't have to search hard to find someone who with a diagnosed mental health illness has been treated without respect.
From a personal point of view, I have been socially excluded because of my mental health problems. I have been treated differently from others, being made to feel I won't be able to 'handle' certain situations or that I won't be able to 'cope' with something. I have had difficult accessing health care when I have desperately needed it, with the result being a worsening of my symptoms. This of course has knocked my confidence, lowered my self-esteem and made it harder for me to be able to talk about my illness.
What about from a wider point of view? The stigma associated with mental health means those suffering are talking less. Individuals are becoming scared to open up to their friends, family, employers or universities through fear of being treated differently and being deprived of a sustainable quality of life. The WHO even reports that some individuals with mental health problems are being subject to abuse and being deprived of making life decisions.
The result? People with mental health illnesses are finding it more difficult to access work and education opportunities. Even the Work Capability Assessment has been recognised by the courts as being 'unfair' to those with mental health problems, forcing people who are unwell to have to go into work when they are unable to. With poor health care provision as well, those with mental health problems are even more likely to die prematurely. It can no longer continue to go on like this.
To me, dignity means being fully accepted into society, being given the same opportunities as every other individual in able to have a good quality of life. This, to me, doesn't seem like a lot to ask for in this day and age. I think I have been fairly lucky in comparison to some, but even in hospital I had moments where I believe I wasn't being treated in a dignified manner.
As individuals, we can change this though. It all starts with open and honest conversations, where people do not judge one another, where the language used does not stigmatise or discriminate against people with mental health problems. This isn't a hard task for us to do, we just need to step up and do it! It's about taking a moment and thinking about what to say to someone who has disclosed to you they have a mental health problem. It's about sending a text message or offering a cuppa to someone who is struggling. It's about not excluding someone through fear that they may not be able to 'handle' it and instead, supporting them.
Imagine the uproar there would be if the news reported an individual with another type of illness or disability being treated without their dignity in mind. It would make local, maybe even national news. It would be all over social media. But why not with mental health? Why aren't we shouting from the rooftops that things have to change? People are dying, for crying out loud. We all, as individuals, have the capacity to make a difference, even if it's a small one. It's about having an indiscriminate mind set, a listening ear and not judging someone when you're not living their life and walking in their shoes.
Don't forget the 1 in 4 statistic. That's 1 in 4 of us who will have a mental health problem at any one time. Think of the number of friends and family you have. How many of them will be affected? Would you know what to say to someone you love with a mental illness? If you're looking for a sign to start talking about mental health, then this is it.
I urge you, this World Mental Health Day, to do something that will help change the way the world sees mental health and it's associated illnesses. It doesn't have to be much - visit a website such as Mind, Time To Change or the Mental Health Foundation and read about common mental health problems and their symptoms. Perhaps you have a friend you know is struggling, and you could send them a text or invite them round for a cuppa. There's the option as well of sharing your own experiences and story with others to offer hope and to help others who are struggling to feel less alone.
What does dignity mean to you?
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