There used to be a time when we didn’t know what was inside our bodies or how they worked. Now SCIENCE has made it so that we can live to a ripe old age because we know how our bodies work and we know that if we do general maintenance for them and seek out professional help when we need then we are not letting wounds get infected and we know to wash our hands after going to the loo. More and more we are learning about how our mind works, what general maintenance we need to do and that prevention, just like with our bodies is better than letting things linger and hope that they go away by themselves. We know first aid for when we cut ourself or we get sunburn but when we experience rejection or loneliness our emotional first aid kit is a little lacking, at least I know mine was and it has taken time to develop it and I’m still developing it. The concept of emotional first aid I first came across towards the end of my second year of uni when I suffering with depression, I watched a TED talk by a person called Guy Winch and I loved his talk, I then read his book and also found it very valuable.
The biggest step I took when I was depressed was reaching out, it took me 9 months of being depressed to do it but I did it, from then onwards I was on the road to recovery. At times I wish that I had reached out earlier but in my state of mind and having not reached for professional help before it was something that was too alien and difficult. I am now getting better at recognising when I see signs that I am not feeling so well emotionally and through therapy and lots of reading my emotional first aid kit is more like a tool box that I rifle through until I find the right tool for the job, sometimes it takes more than one or two tools and sometimes it takes going to the mechanic.
Mental health is something that I am very passionate about so not only this week I will be writing blog post but you can expect for me to write about it or draw about it in my instagram. If you want to reach out to ask me any questions then please do so on my instagram and I will do my best. Also I want to encourage each other to speak up about mental health to your friends and colleagues because we never know who is going through a rough patch and when we are feeling low our minds trick us into thinking that it is just us who aren’t coping or failing at life which further alienate us and then reaffirm those negative believes that pop up when we are feeling low, so by hearing other people’s experiences we realise that we are not alone in what we experience and there will be some people who understand what we are going through and that we don’t need to go through it alone.
Reach out over the phone:
- Samaritans – for everyone – Call 116 123
Email jo@samaritans.org - Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
- Papyrus – for people under 35 – Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm Text 07786 209697
- Childline – for children and young people under 19 – Call 0800 1111
- The Silver Line – for older people – Call 0800 4 70 80 90
- SANEline – 0300 304 7000
4.30pm – 10.30pm daily
Reach out online:
Reach out in person:
(from the NHS website)
Talk to someone you trust
Let family or friends know what’s going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe.
There’s no right or wrong way to talk about suicidal feelings – starting the conversation is what’s important.
If you find it difficult to talk to someone you know, you could:
call your GP – ask for an emergency appointment
call 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support and help you need
