There has been a call recently by health professionals to try to cut waiting times for mental health patients who have to wait often extended periods of time before they can access the help they require. Presently people wait weeks longer to see a consultant, much longer than they would have if they been suffering from a physical ailment.
Although this move is welcome, there still seems a great deal of work to be done in removing stigma around mental. It is not unreasonable to think that the reason mental health patients needs have been overlooked in the past may be due, in part, to the stigma of having a mental health issue in the first place. Although there has been moves in recent years to counter act and change attitudes towards mental health, there still seems to be a long way to go.
Many people are still afraid to tell their families they are experiencing mental poor health, and many are reluctant to tell their employer through feel of loosing there job. This needs to change. People experiencing mental health issues need to be treated with the same compassion we treat those with physical problems.
As someone who has experienced acute mental health issues, I know first hand how difficult it is to get get when you need it most. I can’t put into words the agony of being utterly desperate with nowhere to go and no support and various times of day or night. Its a very lonely place but sadly is experienced by thousands. We all have a responsibly to try and change this, a change in attitude and care start right here with us.