This affects all of us: It's 'Time to Talk' about it

Anyone can suffer from a mental health illness. Don't be ashamed. Talk to someone - get help. Mental health affects us all.

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By Sarah Henderson

Robin Williams, Demi Lovato, Catherine Zeta Jones, Mily Cyrus, Michael Phelps, Hugh Laurie, Winston Churchill, J K Rowling, Dame Kelly Holmes, Tony Adams, Frank Bruno, Ellie Goulding, David Beckham, Glenn Close, J F Kennedy, Buzz Aldrin, Steve Jobs, Charles Dickens.

Famous People with Mental Health Illness

The above are well-known people – actors/performers, scientists, Prime Ministers, top athletes, writers – people who we think are successful and are in the public eye. All of these people have experienced a mental health illness.

1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health illness in our lifetime. 1 in 5 of us will suffer cancer in our lifetime. Both are illnesses and no one has any choice in whether they are affected by them.

It’s not a weakness

No-one sees cancer as a weakness. But mental health illness can be/is perceived as a weakness and people can be embarrassed to talk about it and feel isolated, worthless and ashamed.
Both are life-changing experiences, affecting not only ourselves but those close to us, and have a huge impact on our home and work life.

People suffering from mental health illness deserve and need us to treat their illness with the same understanding, compassion and support we give to anyone else suffering from a life-changing illness.

Talking helps us get better

We can’t get through any illness like this without our friends, family and work colleagues. But if people are afraid to talk about their mental health they can’t get the support they need which can make a huge difference in their recovery.

As unique individuals, we should celebrate and respect our personalities and quirks. Mental health illness does not change this and does not make us any less of a person.

On Time to Talk Day, and for the other 364 days of the year, please talk about mental health — yours, someone you’re feeling worried about, someone famous — and start a conversation which can help to make a difference in someone’s life. If you aren’t sure how to start a conversation there are hints on the Time to Talk website.

Don’t suffer alone

To anyone suffering from mental health illness. You have an illness – please talk to someone – you shouldn’t have to suffer alone. If you can’t talk to a friend, family member or someone at work please see your doctor. Or, there are lots of organisations/support groups out there to help. You are not alone – there are lots of people suffering from mental health illness too.

And finally to anyone suffering from a life-changing illness, be it mental or physical, remember:
Your illness does not define you.
Your strength and courage does.