Reducing the stigma around mental health
By Tom Wavre “I’m not faking being sick, I’m faking being well.” I sometimes wonder if this misconception is one of the biggest barriers to defeating the stigma around mental health. Some people seem to think we fellow sufferers use it as an excuse, or are just playing up on Continue Reading
By Tom Wavre Recently my doctor switched medication for my depression and anxiety from citalopram to duloxetine. My gut feel had always been that the citalopram was not really impacting my mood or anxiety very much, if at all. When I started taking citalopram after being first diagnosed with depression, Continue Reading
Much has been said since the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why aired. For those who have missed it this series follows the story of Hannah, a girl in an American High School, who has died by suicide and left tapes behind detailing her reasons. Each ‘reason’ focuses on a different Continue Reading
By Tom Wavre Obviously before I even start, on balance I am NOT grateful for my depression. No positives would outweigh the loss of self, the emptiness, the overwhelming soul-sucking nature of depression. Depression makes you lose a piece of who you are, it’s a killer, it deceives you, it Continue Reading
Real terms spending on mental health is in a steady decrease. Let’s put this in context. The number of people being diagnosed is on the increase, the number of people suffering (or at very least being open enough for us to learn of it) is increasing. The WHO state that Continue Reading
By Tom Wavre I work for a large global organisation who are good at many things but do not have any policies around mental health in the workplace. I’d like to share with you a presentation that you are free to use yourself. This presentation has helped to reshape the Continue Reading
By Tom Wavre Recently, I accidentally went 5 days without taking my medication. I fight depression and to a lesser extent anxiety, and have been helped in this by 20mg of citalopram every day for around 2 1/2 years. Though with no relation to this article I have recently switched Continue Reading
In all the news coverage it is becoming more and more obvious that the truth is reducing in importance in the eyes of many. Statements such as ‘people are tired of experts’ or the hilariously unfunny ‘alternative facts’ coupled with all the fake news stories, shows that the truth is Continue Reading
One in 4 people will suffer from a mental illness at some point in their life and I want you to join me in pledging to do absolutely nothing about it Quarter of the people you know will suffer at some point from depression, stress, anxiety or other mental illnesses, Continue Reading
Thank you. To everyone who has read, liked, shared, followed, commented, contributed, agreed, disagreed or done anything other than show apathy. Thank you. I started 1in4 back in the summer, with the aim of chipping away at the stigma around mental health and showing people that they are not alone, Continue Reading
Carrie Fisher wore many hats throughout her lifetime. Obviously her most famous one was as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films – films that were central to the childhood of so many like me. In later life however she also donned the hat of mental health advocate. Carrie fought Continue Reading
With one in four people suffering from mental illness throughout their lifetime we need a workplace revolution. We must do better at creating working environments that encourage positive mental health. We must do more for our employees and co-workers who suffer from poor mental health. The company I work for Continue Reading