This is my first Time to Talk Day as a mental health Champion for York Ending Stigma, and I would like to talk about why I think you should be more open about mental health, and how doing so, has helped me. Being more aware of your mental health can be a challenging and eye opening experience. Realising that things maybe are not okay, despite telling yourself they are, can be a scary feeling and I know that I felt overwhelmed and worried when I accepted this. However, with the stigma around mental health, many people will feel ashamed about this experience, and I write for York Ending Stigma (YES) to let people know that you shouldn’t.
“The first thing I did was talk with those closest
to me and I found some relief from this.”
For my experience with severe anxiety at times, it took me months to really accept what I was going through. The first thing I did was talk with those closest to me and I found some relief from this. It was here that I realised this was the most important thing for me to do; to talk. It could be in a formal setting with someone trained, or it could be anywhere, as long as you can open your mind and let people know how you are feeling. This for me, was the first step towards finding peace within myself.
“I realised this was the most important thing for
me to do; to talk.”
Once I had accepted how I was feeling by talking it through, it changed my perspective and I think it will for others. So to all readers who are unsure about their mental health, starting the conversation can be the hardest part, but may be the first step in a journey on self-acceptance and healing, like it was for me. That is why I think it is time to talk.
Time to Talk Day resources
York Ending Stigma
To find out more about our work and to join us to end mental health stigma in York, please refer to our website https://yorkcvs.org.uk/york-ending-stigma/ or email us on yes@yorkCVS.org.uk