Julie is a supporter and previous member of staff
I joined Health in Mind because I feel very strongly about improving the lives of those affected by mental health issues.
Through my own personal experience as a young person with anxiety and depression, one of the key issues I found was a lack of discussion surrounding mental health. I struggled to talk to my family and friends about the issues I was facing due to the unhealthy stigma that’s unfortunately still attached to mental health. I didn’t want to be labelled as having a mental health issue and, at the same time, was scared that no-one would believe the severity of my feelings. Taking that first step and speaking to someone was an incredibly scary experience.
However, once I did, I realised that I wasn’t alone and that there is help and support out there. I hope that campaigns like Time to Talk, and the work we do at Health in Mind – promoting positive mental health and wellbeing – will make it easier for people to share their feelings and find the right support for them.
I realise that talking about mental health can be difficult, but it is important to find at least one person who you feel comfortable enough with to have open conversations about your mental health – whether that’s a friend, family member, tutor, work colleague or health professional. If you don’t feel able to talk to someone you know then remember you are never alone. You can always call the Samaritans, Breathing Space or a number of other fantastic listening services.
You can find more information about listening services and local support through iThrive, Midspace, Westspace and Eastspace – they are online sources of mental health and wellbeing information for those living in Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian and East Lothian. They are a great resource full of information about local services, group and events, as well as self-help guides and factsheets. This information service can empower you to take the next step to improving your mental health and wellbeing.
If you need to speak to someone now call the Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87.