Today is Time To Talk day in the UK. There is a huge stigma behind mental health and talking about it.

I have, for many years, suffered with depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD and for a time I was ashamed and almost embarrassed to admit it. I am receiving help now for it and it took going to group therapy to realise that I'm not alone and that itself was a massive weight off my shoulders.

The more we talk about mental health, the more the stigma around it will be broken down.

Hear hear.

I've had a few bouts of depression in my life; only the most recent one (2016) was I able to finally talk about it with others, without feeling the stigma I'd been used to previously.

I'd encourage everyone to talk about it, to encourage others to open up about it, and to listen - without prejudice - if someone you know needs help.

Group therapy has been great so far. It's such a huge relief to be able to talk about what I've gone through and share with others that have gone through similar. Plus not to be judged on it too. I'd love to hope that when I get better, I'll be able to give something back by maybe peer mentoring or volunteering with mental health services. Just like those that facilitate the group

I'm really happy you posted.

Your kind and respectful nature shines through.

All the best x

It's great to hear a good story from our mental health services. I hope things only improve for you.

My own personal story is an event caused me to become depressed to the point of suicide. I managed to stop myself and got myself back to a stable state again. I then re-trained and am now a fully qualified counsellor working mostly with University aged adults (paid) and homeless charities (voluntary).

Things are improving and all I can say to anyone out there suffering; you are not alone, there are people who will listen, what you are going through is real, getting the right help will help you to make things better, just hang in there.

I'm glad this exists. How seriously it's taken and how much visibility it has...I don't know. "Invisible illnesses" (physical as well as mental) are MASSIVELY oppressed in the US.

For me it was physical illnesses that CAUSED the outbreak of mental ones. Over the past 18 years I've been collecting them like fucking pokemon. They actually crippled me and kept me from working for years. The years I could work I bounced from job to job, always being let go or pressured to quit because my body couldn't keep up. Some members of my family called me a bum or worse regardless of how big my medical charts were. I hadn't lost a chunk of my body (on the outside at least) so I had to be fine.

Eventually this took a toll on my mind (like you'd imagine it would). Even today, my self worth is completely shattered; I fight with suicidal thoughts on a regular basis. Basic things that people don't generally equate with their "dream" such as a job, a family, children, these things are a pipe dream for me. Depression and anxiety can be overbearing beyond words. Only a small handful of people here have seen how deep the rabbit hole went for me.

I'm glad you shared your story, and I hope others can too. Because we all have different stories, and they need to be shared. We are the only ones that can shed light on this to those that simply don't understand, or sometimes don't care to. Sometimes, we are the only ones that can support each other too for the same reasons.

Peace and love,
Jason