World Mental Health Day 2015

Today is World Mental Health Day. Did you know...

 1 in 4 people are living with mental health illnesses

1 in 10 young people experience mental health issues

9 out of 10 people with mental health problems experience stigma and discrimination

To help raise awareness and get people talking about Mental Health issues, I ran a guest post series on my site this month, inviting writers to put pen to paper (or finger to screen) about their own experiences.

A number of talented and brave bloggers contacted me and I was honoured to share their personal stories and articles. Here are just a few snippets of the great writing that made this series so relevant and relatable:

How To Scare The Anxiety Monster by Learning To Be Mrs C

The final guest post in our World Mental Health Day series is written by Heather at Learning to be...Mrs C. Heather lives in Yorkshire with her two daughters and is newly married ! She posts a rather entertaining Moaning Mondays, which often makes me laugh on miserable Monday mornings.

I'm Mrs C and I struggle with anxiety.

Boom. Now there's a way to ease you into a nice grab-a-brew-and-put-your-feet-up easy read. I feel like I should be sitting in a circle and sharing. But still, grab a brew and put your feet up. And maybe a chocolate hob nob.
Those opening words might seem awkwardly blunt. But that's the reality. And for a long time we've tried to fluff up these kind of issues, avoiding harsh terminology and playing them down to make them more palatable. But what it does is make them unreal. This post is part of a collaborative series which is all about being real women, with real lives, sharing real struggles.
Dealing with something that you can't use a sticky plaster on doesn't make you any less you. It doesn't make me any less...me. I still whistle out of tune and I still laugh when the children at school pass wind and pretend it wasn't them. I still do a little dance when I'm about to eat yummy food and I still cry at X Factor. I just also happen to have regular tussles with the anxiety monster. He's an ass.

She's Still A Princess by What My Fridge Says

The fourth post in our World Mental Health Day series is written by Lucy at What My Fridge Says.
Lucy's posts always start with an inspirational quote or message posted on her fridge. She also has a lot of sensory activities up her sleeves for toddlers!

Anxiety and Depression: My Story by Mayflower Blogs

The third post in our World Mental Health Day series has been written by Jemma from Mayflower Blogs.  Jemma is Mummy to her son and little daughter, her blog is family orientated and she often talks openly about current issues.

• 1 IN 4 PEOPLE will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of the year.
• WOMEN are more likely to have been treated for a mental health problem than men, and about 10% of children have a mental health problem at any one time.
• DEPRESSION affects 1 in 10 older people. 
• SUICIDE rates show that British men are three times as likely to die by suicide and self harm, than British women, statistics for the UK show one of the highest rates in Europe.*

PND : A Young Mothers Story by Thirty Something Belle

My first guest article in our World Mental Health Day series is written by Lisa from Thirty Something Belle. Lisa lives in Manchester, is Mum to two girls and is also a bit of a crazy cat lady like me!
She has a pretty cool sense of style and a vintage mirror that I would love to steal...
Lisa's article is about her experience of Post Natal Depression after a traumatic birth as a young mother.

I became a mother aged just 17 in June 2000. Unexpected and unsure of the road that lay ahead, I tried to embrace this life changing experience. My daughters arrival on this planet was less than smooth. A traumatic birth resulting in an emergency Caesarean section left me tired, confused and in pain. During the night, I was left alone with my new arrival and after a few nervous cuddles, I attempted to feed her. The feeling when she looked up into my eyes was indescribable. I was utterly in love. This beautiful child who was now completely dependent upon me to provide for all of her future needs - emotional and practical.