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It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay 
I’ve been thinking a lot about all that has happened over last 4+ years. With news focused on negotiations and deals, it’s easy to forget the human aspect—one that shows that Brexit also triggered a mental health crisis. Fallout will continue. [Thread]
I’ve been thinking a lot about all that has happened over last 4+ years. With news focused on negotiations and deals, it’s easy to forget the human aspect—one that shows that Brexit also triggered a mental health crisis. Fallout will continue. [Thread]
The situation of EU citizens is one example. As a recent survey I did showed, many feel very anxious and stressed. I had assumed that I would see such feelings come through in the survey, but I hadn’t quite anticipated that they would be as common as they turned out to be.
But then a 4+ year rollercoaster ride about your rights in your home ... it’s definitely not a joyride. Especially as issues continue. Uncertainty for all this time, a real loss of a sense of belonging—these are serious issues and they affect young and old.
And while deeply impacted that’s only one group. Whether it is those with businesses who worry about their livelihoods or those who voted Remain and now feel a real sense of loss, there was never going to be a straightforward return to normal following all these experiences.
But then came Covid and now a much larger group of people is experiencing problems because of the entirely unprecedented situation we all find ourselves in. We must not let it become a mental health epidemic. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/mental-health-coronavirus-covid-nhs-b885840.html
In combination, the pre-Brexit years and Covid are a perfect storm for mental health. We already had much less resilience in the UK given the stress and uncertainty so many have experienced since 2016. We need, as the article above rightly notes, more support to prevent worse.
I could end this thread now because the above call is my main message. But there is also a personal dimension to this. And as I keep saying that we need more open conversations ... well:
The bottom line is simple: I would lie if I said that all that has happened over the last four years has not left a mark on me: there has of course been an impact on my mental health. But that simple bottom line is obviously much more complex in reality.
Some things are a part of my life now that I’ve never known before from myself (though from others). I sometimes joke that new friends don’t know the real me while old friends wouldn’t recognise this strange new person—one I sometimes don’t recognise myself.
Like the time I sat on the tube and, without any actual trigger, just burst into tears and couldn’t stop. I’m not embarrassed by any of this. I have never been. I didn’t do this to myself. But that doesn’t change the fact that the last four years eradicated my “buffer”.
There is a strong gender dimension to this. From death threats to suddenly finding myself reading stories that describe my violent rape, these are experiences I truly wish I hadn’t had. But the fact is: far too many women have them—here’s another story. https://www.independent.ie/opinion/how-many-death-threats-have-i-had-on-twitter-the-sad-truth-is-ive-lost-count-39597253.html
Within that story lies another layer of mental health problems. I obviously cannot speak for other groups but I assume that this is similar for others who are frequently the centre of attacks. We need to all work harder to stop the hate that is triggering this crisis.
What has always weighed on me most heavily though is the negative impact I’ve had on friends—completely inadvertently, but still. There have been some incidents where things could have gone terribly wrong and friends were impacted simply because they were with me.
Some scenes are etched in my mind and they will, I’m sure, never fade. While I’ve gotten used to many things, this is something that just doesn’t ever become normal or in any way something I can accept. And of course: the sheer volume of garbage has been tiring if nothing else.
So no wonder, I think, that Covid, on the back of this, has had a big impact. To the point that, in April, I pretty much lost the plot. If it hadn’t been for a good friend giving me basically a reading of the riot act for not saying that I was struggling, I really don’t know.
And therein lies the more personal part of my message to you today: don’t do as I did then: don’t bottle it up. It doesn’t work. There is always someone there to listen and if you don’t think so, try this: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
So on this #WorldMentalHealthDay remember that and look out for each other. Our ride ahead will remain a bumpy one for some time. Brexit, Covid ... impacts will not go away soon. But we will come out the other side together. /end
remember that and look out for each other. Our ride ahead will remain a bumpy one for some time. Brexit, Covid ... impacts will not go away soon. But we will come out the other side together. /end
