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.

Agoraphobia : An Open Letter To Everyone Who Knows Me by Admissions of a Working Mother

The first post in our Mental Health series is written by myself and is about my experience with agoraphobia. I've written it to re-visit how I felt at my lowest but I have been doing quite well over the last few years and a lot of my problems I have overcome. Its something that will always be there, it never truly goes away, its just part of who I am but now I don't really notice it on an everyday basis and it definitely doesn't control my life.

Dear Everyone Who Knows Me,
I'm sorry if we got off on the wrong foot at some stage, if I came across as rude or unsociable. I'm not actually like that, its just I often feel quite anxious and panicky in social situations out of my comfort zone.
When I feel like this, its quite overwhelming and I have to fight hard to stop it taking control of me.  Its not that I don't want to talk to you or I don't have anything interesting to say, its just that I'm putting all my energy into staying in the room and its the most I can really manage.
And you know, its not that I don't want to eat your food or have a cup of tea, I can see that you went to a lot of trouble and I appreciate it. Its just that I feel so sick, my heart is racing, my mouth is dry and the idea of eating is completely impossible for me.
I know you aren't aware of this, you haven't a clue about the internal battle going on inside my head. You just think I'm a bit weird and impolite, I can tell by your strained attempts to talk to me and how you raise your eyebrows. I  know what you think about me, because I think similar things as well.

Lets Talk (About Mental Health)

Next week see's the start of my guest post series, in the run up to World Mental Health Day on the 10th October.
What started as a vague idea to talk about Mental Health and write a post motivated by this day has turned into an amazing series, with some brilliant posts and very talented bloggers!
My guest posters next week are Lisa, Jemma, Lucy and Heather, I have been truly touched by all of their pieces and feel very honoured to be sharing their stories.

We will be talking about a variety of issues such as anxiety, suicide, post natal depression and self harm. Our intention is to highlight these illnesses, talk about them and break the taboo that mental health is something to be brushed under the carpet.
You can find out more about the bloggers in the Lets Talk tab at the top of the site.

Watch this space!