“The most important things are the hardest to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them…

“And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you’ve said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it.

That’s the worst, I think. When the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear.”

― Stephen King, Different Seasons

Although Stephen King was talking about something else entirely, for me he could be describing perfectly the stigma that exists from having a mental illness.

The statistics tell us that one in four people will suffer from mental health problems at some stage of their life. However, despite the fact that mental health problems are relatively common, people experiencing them can often find themselves facing stigma and discrimination.

A recent study among service users conducted by St Patrick’s University Hospital showed that many people live with the distressing symptoms of mental ill-health for long periods without accessing mental health advice or treatment. This is due mainly to the stigma that surrounds mental health as well as lack of knowledge about mental health problems and sources of help.

Forty-one per cent of those surveyed had lived with their symptoms for at least one year before seeking help, while Forty-one per cent of people surveyed would not discuss their mental health problems with their employer.

It makes me sad that people feel the need to keep such a significant part of their lives a secret.

As Stephen King says, the most important things are the hardest to say, not because there is no one to tell but because there is a lack of an understanding ear. Continue reading →