19/04/2024
A post from 6 years ago - still relevant today -letโs be kind to each other especially on here.
When the Black Dog barks - Who Listens?
This is a lengthy post so if you are not interested in Mental Illness โ Stop reading โ I am not forcing you to read this post and I am not asking you to agree with me โ but itโs been such a bad month in Kerry โ I just felt the need to write something
For those who might not know the Black Dog means mental distress usually depression but can be used for anxiety and any form in reality as they are all cousins.
The profile of mental health has been raised significantly in the past few years, partly due to campaigning from mental health charities and partly due to high-profile people โspeaking publicly and candidly about their own mental health problems. All of this should be welcomed as it removes the stigma around mental health and encourages people who are suffering in silence to seek help.
However, the awareness movement is not without its pitfalls. It is sometimes co-opted by people to advance their own agenda, such as increasing a fan base or grabbing media attention.
The awareness movement has also, at times, been hijacked by politicians and bureaucrats. They publicly declare their commitment to raising awareness โ drawing plaudits for their sensitivity and bravery โ while simultaneously under-investing in mental health services like our politicians and a dysfunctional HSE.
Our politicians claim to be committed to improving mental health but they continue to cut financial support and this is harming mental health services. In fact only for voluntary movements and the generosity of the public, we would be in a far worse position than we are currently at.
The system is creaking and the politicians donโt care because there appear to be very few votes to be gained on highlighting Mental Health issues.
Not โeither-orโ but โbothโ
Mental health stigma is of course very real, affecting the lives of people with mental health problems as well as those close to them. Research has shown that fear of being labelled and stigmatised affects peopleโs willingness to disclose their illness and seek treatment, so it is laudable that ignorance about the causes of mental ill health and treatment options are being discussed.
But the debate around awareness shouldnโt cover up the very serious problems mental health services face. It is all very well to tell people that it is okay to have a mental health problem and that they should seek the necessary treatment, but if the healthcare system isnโt functioning as it should, awareness campaigns ring hollow.
Public education on mental health problems, and on how to find help, needs to go hand-in-hand with making improvements to mental health services. While politicians speak about mental health awareness and the importance of seeking mental health treatment, further cuts to HSE mental health services are hanging over the fate of those afflicted by mental ill health.
Those in charge of the mental healthcare system should be held accountable ( not the brilliant nurses and some counsellors ) and not be allowed to hide behind the sometimes nebulous awareness debate. People with mental health problems not only need public awareness and understanding, but a functioning mental health service. They need both. Our mental health service is in crisis mode right now.
People are not coping well with mental health issues and our self harm and su***de rates have now reached epidemic levels. It must stop but it wonโt under the current structure โ The well worn phrase of โjust talk โ find somebody who will listenโ while helpful is not the answer otherwise su***de rates would be falling not rising. No-it goes deeper โ involves lots of emotional stuff โ financial pressures โ relationship problems โ addiction and a myriad of reasons that I am not qualified to speak on. But one truth I know โ those who self harm do so because they are not happy in their own skin.
That is what needs addressing as well as a more caring and understanding society. I would look at it like this โThere but for the grace of God go Iโ so complacency is a โno-noโ.
No folks- we all have to be watchful and never fall into the trap that it โ could never happen to meโ because it can and might โ for that reason there is one message I would like to send out and ye can take it or leave it .
Iโm so tired of being judged by people who know nothing about mental health. Imagine a life where people say โyouโre a drama queenโ, โover protectiveโ, โcrazyโ, โnot normalโ, โunsocialโ, โyou hate peopleโ, โyou make life worse than it isโฆโ And โget over it, nothingโs wrongโ, โeveryone has a bad day, stop playing the victimโ, โhereโs a tiny violinโ. โYouโre crazyโ. โYouโre mentalโ.
Then think, why would you do that? What would make you choose a life where that is how you want people to see you?
Answer? You wouldnโt choose it. โ So if itโs Anxiety or Depression โ or a Personality Disorder why would you choose it?
So Nobody Chooses Mental illness โ so Stop Judging โ Change your attitude โ that my friends would be a good start. My thoughts are always with people who feel theyโve had enough and canโt take it anymore. They take their own lives by committing su***de. Itโs time we started talking about su***de as troubling as it is. Some workers in the field caution us about using the word SU***DE - they say itโs โtriggering โ I will tell whatโs โtriggering โ - cutting someone down from a tree out the back garden or opening the garden shed and finding a loved one or friend hanging with a belt around their neck. Thatโs triggering and the most awful experience for anyone to go through. So letโs start with the truth - calling a spade a spade, if someone takes their own life then itโs su***de. The more times we say that the better the chance of doing something about it. Some will say su***de is cowardly but I say itโs not because it takes some courage to take oneโs own life. When one takes this drastic action their mind is shot - gone - not rational - just weary from wrestling with the Black Dog - they are not in control. So no Shane or no blame. Letโs all do better - letโs start by changing how we view mental health - lets remember words hurt, our actions can hurt, our inaction can hurt, isolation and loneliness hurts, not saying hello can hurt, rejection can hurt, addiction definitely corrodes values, death hurts, draconian bosses hurt, bullying hurts and so on. A public laugh or smile can change once a person goes home and hides from the world. We need to start by taking small steps - I would even think itโs time to set up some form of discussion groups in every community in the county about Mental Health issues and su***de prevention. Like the Neighbourhood Watch but very different - letโs face the Government are not going to do anything. Unless the word โ Green โis on it forget it. Itโs been a long read but this Gospel according the Mortimer I felt needed to be said. If anyone is touched by this or addiction issues, by the way feel free to contact me - my DMโs are open. My thoughts and prayers are with those who are dealing with or have dealt with su***de and itโs aftermath. Be Kind People๐
MM
