Triggered by the feedback I received after my last photo post, I decided to write this blog so even if one, two or a few people come forward and reach out, it would have served its purpose.

I posted this photo with the tag line ‘A Penny for your thoughts’ inspired by 4 different instances in the span of a week, where I overheard conversations relating to depression and lack of mental health. By now, we all know that depression and mental illnesses, in their many forms and levels, are very common. Yet the most difficult aspect of this is still reaching out for help, talking about it and identifying it.

According to WHO, 1 in every 5 persons are severely depressed which they classify as the ones who nearly every time need medication because of the strong neurochemical (natural chemicals that make the brain function) element that is present. I will not pretend to understand the severity of these cases but I can say something about that kind of ‘depression’ or mental crisis that 1 in 3 people go through at one point in their lives because I am 1 out of those 3.

In my case, I never called it depression but rather a lack of mental health at that particular moment in time. I am not new to psychotherapy; having gone for some sessions each time I felt I needed it, since my early twenties. The issues I wanted to deal with varied along the years; from stress and boundary issues, to emotional and relationship issues, to deep psychological struggles and so on. The point is that I always felt I wanted to do something about the lack of mental health at that particular time in my life and I was lucky enough to be exposed and aware of the professional services that exist. BUT, it is not the same for most others and that is why I am speaking out – loud!

We all deserve to have the same access, awareness and opportunity to deal with our mental health and it pains me to hear about so many families who suffer because of what their loved ones are going through. It also pains me to hear of the consumption of medication, sometimes ongoing, that most have to endure, thus robbing them and the family from using that money for more positive and life enriching things not to mention the repercussions of the long term effects of drugs.

Don’t get me wrong, in some severe cases, medication is important and I value the professional advice on this. In my case, beside seeking professional help, I sometimes reverted to Bach rescue remedy, which helped calm my daily anxiety levels, other times homeopathy, other times aromatherapy and I kept on going about my life as if everything was OK and normal. This is hard on one level, because you feel untruthful to yourself pretending everything is OK when all you want to do is run to the nearest exist and burst out crying.

On the other hand, I felt it exercised the healthy part of my mind and therefore kept me from slipping into a 24/7 state of depression. I resorted to everything I knew would help, from yoga and deep breathing exercises, to meditation and praying, to getting massages and reading about the complexities of the mind. That is how badly I did not want to get caught up in it.

The aim of me sharing this is only one: and that is, to serve. To serve as a link to those who wish to speak up but have not yet had the courage to do so. To serve as a link to those who do not know who to speak to or where to begin. And to serve as a ray of light to the family members who cry for more awareness and less stigma around mental health.

There is valuable work and education going on and it is up to us to take part.

My husband came to tell me that at their workplace they had a ‘MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE’ which is organized by the Richmond Foundation and is aimed at all adults to be able to identify it and give first aid help to those developing a mental health problem or are in a mental crisis. I invite family members, educators, employers and employees, students and all you good people out there to find out more about how you can be of service and nip this problem at its bud.

In the meantime, next time you see someone staring out into space or engaged in deep thought, don’t just assume they are OK. Look out for other people’s mental health and when you do not know what to say or ask, this old phrase may help… ‘A penny for your thoughts’.