Let's be part of the solution and not part of the problem
Following from my earlier post about this, the reaction I encountered on social media was extremely negative. Some were expressing their dismay that serious mental health issues were being dismissed, whilst most just wanted to pile on Tony Blair and his time in office, in particular, the dishonesty about the Iran Arms row.
His was not the only opinion stating the view that we over medicalise the normal stresses and strains of every day life, and again today, former minister Nadine Dorries has published an article about this. You can read the article here.
Far from demonising or diminishing serious mental health, the article sets out the claim that mental health charities pushed for "categorising normal, emotional responses to stressful life situations as 'mental health issues'"; and raises that people who actually need access to urgent treatment in our mental health services simply can't get the help they need, as the service crumbles under enormous pressure. It is all well and good to blame funding and claim that the service has been underfunded for many years, much as is claimed with the NHS, which is simply untrue. Ok, perhaps this statement is debatable, as this is an extremely complex issue. The point being, that if the system was over burdened by people demanding treatment those for who lack of treatment can be life or death, or the escalation of violence towards others, then people who really needed the service would be seen quicker, and it wouldn't feel like the service was quite so underfunded. Nadine quotes in her article that mental health spend is currently 17.9 billion.
Let me be clear. No one is saying here that people who are experiencing difficult life situations that is causing them stress, sleepless nights and low mood do not need support. Of course they do. That support really should be coming from their friends, family and GP. For most of my adult life I have experienced moor mental health. Depression and anxiety would leave me feeling suicidal. Although there was a pattern for this, and I experienced many years of severe depression, the episodes were always temporary. For sure, some people with very severe depression do need the care of specialist mental health services. But for the rest of us, well, I do believe the answer is quite simple. What it boils down to is self care. Good nutrition, focussing on quality sleep, reducing stress, reducing reliance on drugs and/or alcohol, and getting some exercise. Add in some good quality support from those around them and over time improvements will be seen.
I can perceive the armchair warriors getting restless at reading my words and readying to lambast me. Let me expand. The answer is simple, as in the actions that are needed are simple. What is NOT so simple is that lack of motivation and apathy that comes with depression makes it seem impossible to do any of these thing. This is where the people that surround us have a vital role, in gently supporting and encouraging us. It is also a sad indictment, as Nadine Dorries claims, that receiving a mental health diagnosis fast tracks people to disability benefits.
The current welfare bill is unsustainable, and projections for the next four years is an annual spend of £380 billion! Who pays for this? The tax payer. This situation not only had the previous government concerned, The current government is just as worried. So much so, the so called 'people's party' is planning to continue with what the previous government started and dismantle the financial security of millions of people who rely on disability benefits. This is having a devastating impact for people with life limiting disabilities who face the prospect of losing their disability payments. The process of assessment for Personal Independent Payment is rigorous - and many claims are initially denied and subsequently overturned at tribunal (the DWP decision being upheld in only 20% of cases). They already pulled the financial security rug from under the feet of our elderly, who had their winter allowance cut with indecent haste. Now, I do agree that for some pensioners, they did not need the allowance, but the cut off criteria is too strict. Being £1 over the target income means losing the benefit. £1 does not cover very much in the way of fuel. They could at least have tapered the reduction in allowance depending how much pensioners were over the cut off.
Ok, so I have digressed. Back to the matter in hand.
So what is severe, enduring mental health? For sure, depression can be so severe that it ranks up there. The type that is pervasive and not transient. Conditions such as schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder - these are the conditions that really should be at the front of the queue for mental health services. These conditions are not transient, and can not be alleviated by the type of self care I described earlier.
I can go on forever about this. I will end with this. I am a person who as been at the bottom of the pit, many times. Unable to get out of bed, shop for groceries, feed myself or look after my appearance. There are times I have felt suicidal and even an attempt that I survived. There was a previous attempt as a young woman, but that was more a cry for help. The last attempt was intentional and should have worked. Fortunately for me it didn't.
When my mood is low, and I am unable to lift it, the suicidal ideation returns. This can be difficult to cope with but I trust that they are just thoughts emanating from my depression, and I have never since, wanted to or tried to act on it.
Why am I telling you this? I am sharing this really personal information so that whomever is reading this will know that I am not simply some 'do gooder' who thinks they know best. I have lived depression, many times, and I have survived. I will go so far to say that right now I am actually thriving. I am sensible enough to know that I am not immune from it happening again.
Right now, I am able to prioritise my nutrition and be fully engaged with my life. Sleep is always a bit of a fragile issue for me, but I roll with the punches and I am kind to myself when I need to rest. So far so good.
So, what to do about this very real problem? Do we bang on our proverbial drums and decry the real need for restraint on the public purse? Do we disempower our children by modelling that the way to survive in this world is to grab a diagnosis, swallow some pills that may just be doing more harm than good - or do we stand tall and say, "we've got this".
We will support ourselves and we will support each other. We will nurture community and good neighbourly relationships so that each and every one of us knows that we have someone to turn to in times of difficulty.
Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Let's free up our precious mental health services for those who really need it.
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