Let's Talk About Mental Health

By Amina Chitembo, The Happily Imperfect Leader^TM

One of the big goals for this year is to add my voice to the mental health awareness campaign.

Over time, I have worked in with people struggling with mental health issues, through my charity Black and Minority Ethnic Community Services 2005 - 2016. I have also had first-hand experience of family members, friends and indeed, myself suffering postnatal depression and struggling with the loss of close family members. 

I have come across people who are either too stigmatised or worried to speak about mental illness. People are locked in houses so that communities to do not see what is happening to them. Some people are merely labelled problems because society tends only to see the surface.

Why is it that society is so keen on looking down at this problem?

When is it going to be okay to speak about the struggles that affect at least 1 in 10 people around the world according to research?

The mental health services are at breaking point, or in some countries; they are too expensive for people to afford the professional help and treatment. There is not a day that goes by without the mental health discussion in the media.

Bringing it back home to you and me...

When are we going to start looking at our communities and start to help ourselves?

At what point do we get bold enough to talk to someone about the state of our mental health, or even theirs if we have noticed that something is different?

If you are interested in this issue, join me in the discussion. I do not have all the answers, but I do have a perspective and the will to help. I am not even a mental health professional, what I will share is from my findings and experiences as a concerned member of the world community.

It doesn't matter where you are in the world...

Is there something you can do?

From now on: I will be sharing some my observations, highlighting campaigns and talking to people about Mental Health. I will be delighted if you want to add your voice too, let us do this!

For now, I will leave you with some useful links below; Look out for my next post (Sundays and Thursdays): 

Time to Talk 2018 is on 1st February: https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/time-talk-day-2018.

List of mental health services in the UK: https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/what-are-mental-health-problems/mental-health-help-you/other-useful-organisations

Some statistics in the UK and worldwide: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-uk-and-worldwide. 

P.s: In December 2017. I released a book entitled 'Pushing through Fear, Stereotypes, and Imperfections:  How to COACH Yourself Through Life's CHALLENGES and Boost Your MENTAL HEALTH.' It has been very well received and has had great reviews. Get a copy for yourself or someone in your life here. It might just be the pick me up they need.