Mental Health Week 9th to 16th October

[Paul]

Hi everyone.

It's a tough time at the moment. The amount of ill educated opinion being thrown around about our lives. A group of conservative , some right wing, some Christian fundamentalist, making a decision on our behalf whether we have the same human rights they do.

What else can we do during mental health week to support our community of gay, lesbian, bi, transgender, queer, intersex, cisgender, asexual and HIV+ brothers and sisters?

How can we feel comfortable enough to reach out for help?

Can we spread the word of our plight and have the discussion about the impact on our mental health?

ABC and SBS usually have some amazing content during mental health week, there might be a particular show that you choose to watch with your family that conveys a message you feel you couldn't or it could be a stepping stone to a discussion.

Is there something you want to say on the forum here just for the hell of saying it? Please do, we're here to love and be loved.

What will you do during mental health week?

What do you want others to know during mental health week?

Paul

[Just Sara]

Hi Meercat and thankyou for your input 🙂

It's sad you didn't feel confident with approaching people in your circle to attend an event like Hat Day. Building a network of supporters is really important, so I'm glad your husband and neighbour are there for you.

Unfortunately, those suffering effects of a MI or disorder tend to keep to themselves due to stigma you refer to. It's difficult for us to put ourselves out there unless we have a 'safe' haven to do so. That's why BeyondBlue is such an important and much needed organisation.

[Just Sara]

So sorry for the abrupt ending to my previous post; the screen froze.

Thankyou again to all who've posted about this important week being 'Stronger Together'

Sez

[Quercus]

Hi Meercat (and Sara... And everybody reading),

I'm so relieved I'm not alone in hating the "promotion" side of talking about MI. I suppose it is necessary and at least people are starting to talk. But sometimes I feel like it's not the right kind of discussion.

Take Sara's post... The stats speak for themselves. There are no hats or slogans required.... These numbers represent real human beings who mattered and for some reason saw no alternative.

When you asked does the public need to understand... I think yes they do. But not in a way that belittles us who live with a MI.

When I heard about people at my work making RUOK into a big game I was furious. I thought about the colleagues that I had spoken to (one who's husband was in hospital for an attempt), a fair few who were fighting the idea of medication or seeing a psych because they didn't want a "label". One with serious anxiety. They would all have been sitting there feeling like absolute rubbish.

I like the forums too. A place to just talk quietly about the reality of MI without the risk of it being belittled.

Maybe if we all start to talk about it offline in the same way we discuss our MI here people will start to see it's a medical condition. You don't hear people joking about high blood pressure or diabetes... So why mental illness? And on that note why sexuality?

Good for you Meercat coming out to talk about it.

And thanks to you Sara for raising the discussion. I hope it's ok that I've spoken generally.

❤ Nat

[Just Sara]

Absolutely fine Nat;

Unfortunately my research hasn't uncovered any stat's on LGBTI suicides. I'll have to dig deeper. It was the reason I looked around to begin with. As this is in the Sexuality and Gender section, I thought it important as a discussion topic this week.

I posted those stat's on DB's Suicide thread but haven't been over there yet to see any responses. I'm hoping to find a healthy discussion.

What you say about talking with people offline as if on the forum is how I approach one of my sisters, however her responses are less than desirable; silence with a glazed look is common, but I persist.

Disclosure of MI is similar to 'coming out' about sexuality. We don't really know how it's going to be received by those listening, and face awkward attempts at future conversations. But I see it as progress none the less.

Your work situation sounds absolutely frustrating; it must've been awful for everyone involved. My sis uses humour to deflect; she's an expert at it. I've had some very embarrassing moments in public with her.

I also agree and disagree at the same time with theme days etc to promote MI awareness. Although it can be frustrating for those of us who suffer, it's a successful marketing tactic to increase donations for research and resources.

There's been debate on the 'medical model' of MI which some find is the problem with expressing its core. I'm on the fence atm.

Again; I'm grateful you and others have engaged on here about this important topic.

Kind thoughts;

Sez

[Quercus]

Hi Sara,

Just a quick reply to show you this link...

I'm not sure of the sources etc but the stats are not good.

http://lgbtihealth.org.au/statistics/

I will write again soon. I need to get offline today and get myself back on track. Talk again soon 😊

[startingnew]

Thanks for all the info Sez Nat and everyone. .just staying very quiet atm but am reading along on this thread ❤

[startingnew]

LBGTI OVERALL MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER STATISTICS:

41.1% of homosexual/bisexual people aged 16 and over met the criteria for a mental disorder and had symptoms in the last 12 months

37.1% LGBT people aged 16 and over reported being diagnosed or treated for any mental disorder in the past three years

[startingnew]

hi everyone

Itried to upload other statistics in regards to suicide and sh and SI but it was declined as it could be distressing for others so will just give you thr website and you can take a look for yourselves.

http://lgbtihealth.org.au/statistics/

**MAY TRIGGER**

[Just Sara]

Thanks Nat and SN!

I'll take a look at the site. It'd be interesting to know where their stat's came from and who did them. By that I mean how much of the national population was part of their study.

I know that may sound suspicious, but it actually isn't. I'm just a numbers person who likes empirical evidence to support my findings or opinions. Those stat's are extreme, so if they're accurate, it's mind blowing.

Thanks again guys;

Sez xo

[startingnew]

The website i just gave you Sez is very detailed. I wouldnt be surprised if they said the survey popularition numbers etc.

they have even broken it down into the different mental health disorders statistics. And also then breaks it down into men and women in each section as well. Very detailed!