A woman from Peterborough is urging people to speak more about mental health
More than a third of people surveyed in the East of England say they would prefer to not talk about their mental health
A woman from Peterborough says talking about mental health means people can get more support.
New data reveals the UK’s reluctance to discuss mental health, with young people disproportionately affected by the silence.
More than a third of people surveyed in the East of England say they would prefer to not talk about their mental health rather than risk an awkward conversation.
As well as this 30% of people say they have pushed friends and family away or stopped socialising due to wanting to keep quiet about mental health concerns.
If I'd have opened up, my support network would have been stronger sooner
Laura Collins struggles with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. This started when she was 7 years old. She said:
"When I had panic attacks, I would tell people these elaborate stories trying to explain why I was acting the way I was."
"I just didn't want my health to be something that was public knowledge."
"I was protecting myself out of shame."
"If I'd have opened up, my support network would have been stronger sooner."
"Now that I have opened up about the things that I struggle with, I'm able to have a much better life."
"I know that a lot of people don't think talking will help."
"But it definitely won't make it worse, but not talking about it will make it worse."
I was protecting myself out of shame
Young people are particularly affected, with 16-24-year-olds being the most likely to avoid mental health conversations.
Half admit to pushing people away, compared to just 11% of those over 75.
46% of young people say they wouldn’t want to discuss their mental health, compared to just 19% of 65-74-year-olds.
The study found that the biggest barrier to speaking about mental health is the fear of burdening others with one's struggles.
This was followed by the fear of being judged or labelled and the feeling that no one will truly understand.