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I wanted to share something which I wrote yesterday for the crossword magazine I edit ( http://1across.co.uk ). It's got nothing to do with crosswords, and everything to do with mental health, both over the last several months and the winter to come. Much love, all. 1/n.
As far as I can tell, this year has been unlike any other for anyone who’s alive now. The toll on the economy, people’s livelihoods and the mental health of almost everyone has been unprecedented (a much-used word this year). 2/n
Some have kept quiet and borne it outwardly stoically, some have protested; many have not fared well. I know I am fortunate to have a supportive wife, a (student!) income which hasn’t been suspended, and enough savings to be sure that we’re able to hunker down... 3/n
…and ride things out for a while if need be but, as I’ve said before, switching overnight from asking and answering questions which nobody else in the world has asked before to being the mummy unicorn while my daughter was the big sister unicorn was... 4/n
...abrupt, disruptive, extremely challenging and frequently distressing. Watching our outgoing, funny, warm-hearted child retreat into herself and pull out all her hair was sickening – there’s no other word for it. 5/n
It’s easy to be glib about how to approach difficulties with mental health. I was infuriated by one of the DJs on @bbc6music, my radio station of choice, who dedicated her show to it yesterday and then proceeded to play songs like ‘Everybody Hurts’ by REM, ... 6/n
… & other songs ‘to help you snap out of it’. It’s far more deep-seated than that. Anxiety, depression & other illnesses are now far more common than they were in the past – indeed, I read this morning that the average level of anxiety in children & young people today… 7/n
…would have been considered to be ‘clinical’ in the 1950s.
I know I am hugely fortunate to be studying at @Cambridge_Uni and @JesusCollegeCam, institutions which are recognising the impacts of both the pandemic and study itself and on students’ mental health. 8/n
I know I am hugely fortunate to be studying at @Cambridge_Uni and @JesusCollegeCam, institutions which are recognising the impacts of both the pandemic and study itself and on students’ mental health. 8/n
I am able to book six one-on-one sessions per year with our College’s counsellor, and I’m sure I could have more if I asked; all colleges have Welfare Tutors who are trained in mental health awareness, and there are various training courses I can book on for free, … 9/n
including an eight-week Mindfulness course (which I start tomorrow). I know such opportunities are not available to everyone, and I am immensely grateful to have them. 10/n
For some reason, I think that crossword solving and awareness of mental health issues have some sort of correlation, though I don’t know whether it’s because friends of mine who solve crosswords are also more open about their mental health. 11/n
But if there is that correlation, then some of you, our subscribers (& by extension my Twitter followers), will have been through some difficult times, and will be anxious about whatever the winter has to hold for us. I can do very little myself to help, … 12/n
except to say that you are not alone, and that it is in no way weak to admit to facing difficulties. Help is available, and talking about it is the first step. Opening up is not easy but, I promise you, it is the first step on a path to improvement.
Much love.
13/n n=13.
Much love.
13/n n=13.
