The Lost Boy

Today the news broke that this young man had killed himself after struggling with depression.  

When are we going to start taking mental health seriously?  1 in 4 of us will experience a problem in mental health.  The UK has the highest statistic of self-harm in Europe.  9 out of 10 prisoners are effected by mental health.  It is all around us and yet this government has 1,500 fewer beds for mental health patients than in 2010 and 3,300 fewer posts in mental health nursing.

When is health of the mind going to be treated just as seriously as health of the body?

When I was trying to find help for my own issues, I was quite often turned away purely because they were under-staffed.  I remember being told quite frankly that as I hadn't hurt anyone else I wasn't considered a threat and therefore an immediate priority.  Imagine applying that logic to someone with a tumour?

Statistics show that men are more likely to commit suicide than women.  The truth is that while mental health is scoffed at, men in particular are made to feel weak and embarrassed with comments that insult their masculinity along the way.  Stereotypically men don't talk about their feelings as much as women because that's the behaviour they observe growing up.  But feelings are feelings regardless what gender you are and if these feelings are spiralling out of control then it's ok to get help.

Having a problem doesn't make you weak.  The people who make you feel like you do are weak.  If you can, use that tiny bit of energy still left in you to seek help.  You are a great person.  You deserve to be here.  There is a reason you are here.

Please let's start taking mental health seriously.  How many more people have to die before their time?

Rest in peace Lost Boys and Girls