Making silent struggles heard
Charlotte Williams argues that it's time we all realised that mental health is every bit as important as physical health.
Many individuals around the world endure silent struggles every day, suffering with ongoing battles that they fear they may never win. They feel unable to navigate life’s pressures, finding it hard to find a reason to stay.
As a society, we need to bring more focus to this topic and show those who are suffering that they are not alone. We are all living at a time where there is a significant mental health crisis – we need to make a change. According to the ‘Our world in data’ website, it's estimated that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience major depression in their lives. This staggering statistic shouldn’t be so high - why are we passive about people around us who are struggling? We have a collective duty to help each other, support each other and guide each other to the light at the end of the tunnel. Despite our knowledge of mental health, it still carries a stigma that discourages much-needed conversations and prevents individuals from seeking the help they need. It is time to break this silence and normalise talks about how we truly feel. It is time to provide support without the looming shadow of judgement or shame.
It's vital that mental health problems are not perceived as a sign of weakness – rather, they should serve as an indicator of the complex human experience. Most of us at some point in our lives will need to seek medical support - whether the situation is dire, or consists of just a minor check-up. We must note that the same effort we put in for our physical health should be reflected equally in our mental health challenges. It's crucial to become aware of the problems you face in the early stages and recognise that something is upsetting you or making you feel anxious. Turn this negative emotion into an opportunity to speak, talk it through with someone and break the issue into separate pieces by learning how to work with it and overcome it.
Undeniably, some people find it hard to work out who to speak to. Remember that this can be whoever you want it to be - as long as they are able to listen to you. Some people may find it hard to understand your problems and empathise to the extent of understanding your emotions exactly, but just being able to talk to someone about the way you feel inside is a great starting point for recovery. There are hundreds of different sources, websites and charities which are there to support you, such as: Mind, YoungMinds, Better help, ManUP and Movember. Take these opportunities to speak, as these charities and organisations are designed to be there to help and support those who need it. Most of us know of that aching pain that echoes a feeling of worthlessness, emptiness and being lost, but we need to develop our understanding as to why we feel like this and learn how we can deal with it and change our feelings, otherwise, there is a very real possibility that we will build ourselves a deeper hole, one which is harder to climb out of.
It's important to praise those who bring light to such an important cause. An example of this is Paddy Pimblett’s moving speech at UFC London in July of 2022. This speech was extremely powerful and has made a significant change to the way people view men’s mental health. Pimblett stated ‘there's a stigma in this world where men can’t talk. Listen, if you're a man and you’ve got weight on your shoulders, and you think the only way you can solve it is by killing yourself. Please speak to someone. Speak to anyone…’
I urge you if you are struggling -regardless of why – to speak to someone. There are always people who can help you, and they would rather listen to you than see you suffer.
Charlotte Williams, Year 12
Many individuals around the world endure silent struggles every day, suffering with ongoing battles that they fear they may never win. They feel unable to navigate life’s pressures, finding it hard to find a reason to stay.
As a society, we need to bring more focus to this topic and show those who are suffering that they are not alone. We are all living at a time where there is a significant mental health crisis – we need to make a change. According to the ‘Our world in data’ website, it's estimated that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience major depression in their lives. This staggering statistic shouldn’t be so high - why are we passive about people around us who are struggling? We have a collective duty to help each other, support each other and guide each other to the light at the end of the tunnel. Despite our knowledge of mental health, it still carries a stigma that discourages much-needed conversations and prevents individuals from seeking the help they need. It is time to break this silence and normalise talks about how we truly feel. It is time to provide support without the looming shadow of judgement or shame.
It's vital that mental health problems are not perceived as a sign of weakness – rather, they should serve as an indicator of the complex human experience. Most of us at some point in our lives will need to seek medical support - whether the situation is dire, or consists of just a minor check-up. We must note that the same effort we put in for our physical health should be reflected equally in our mental health challenges. It's crucial to become aware of the problems you face in the early stages and recognise that something is upsetting you or making you feel anxious. Turn this negative emotion into an opportunity to speak, talk it through with someone and break the issue into separate pieces by learning how to work with it and overcome it.
Undeniably, some people find it hard to work out who to speak to. Remember that this can be whoever you want it to be - as long as they are able to listen to you. Some people may find it hard to understand your problems and empathise to the extent of understanding your emotions exactly, but just being able to talk to someone about the way you feel inside is a great starting point for recovery. There are hundreds of different sources, websites and charities which are there to support you, such as: Mind, YoungMinds, Better help, ManUP and Movember. Take these opportunities to speak, as these charities and organisations are designed to be there to help and support those who need it. Most of us know of that aching pain that echoes a feeling of worthlessness, emptiness and being lost, but we need to develop our understanding as to why we feel like this and learn how we can deal with it and change our feelings, otherwise, there is a very real possibility that we will build ourselves a deeper hole, one which is harder to climb out of.
It's important to praise those who bring light to such an important cause. An example of this is Paddy Pimblett’s moving speech at UFC London in July of 2022. This speech was extremely powerful and has made a significant change to the way people view men’s mental health. Pimblett stated ‘there's a stigma in this world where men can’t talk. Listen, if you're a man and you’ve got weight on your shoulders, and you think the only way you can solve it is by killing yourself. Please speak to someone. Speak to anyone…’
I urge you if you are struggling -regardless of why – to speak to someone. There are always people who can help you, and they would rather listen to you than see you suffer.
Charlotte Williams, Year 12