World Mental Health Day!

Thanks to Marc Shaw for the World Mental Health Day logo.

As it's World Mental Health Day I thought I would share with you some of the amazing things which our members do on a regular basis. Our members really are incredible people who are capable and do achieve so much. They are not defined by their Mental Health Illness, but they are people with their own hopes, fears, achievements, desires and experiences. They are a group of people with talents, jobs, families, friends and loved ones.

Some of our members have served or are currently serving in their countries Armed Forces having to do things which most of us hope we never have to face. Those members have each been left with their own scars, but are all brave people who have done their duty.

Dealing with Depression is full of members who have talents. These might be singing through to artists, craftspeople, jewellery makers, crocheters as well as writers.

One of our members who wishes to remain anon wrote this which I have their permission to share. I think it's really poignant about her time being bullied.

I have always wished that I could be like everyone else. To be able to say what I like and know that I will be understood.

I dont want to be different or stand out from the crowd. Some people treat me as if I am stupid because I can't get my words out sometimes.
They shout and scream at me - why?
Is it because they don't understand me? That doesn't seem very fair.

When I was a child, I was deaf and so I couldn't hear what people said. I felt trapped in my own world. I couldn't understand what was said to me, and I couldn't answer back. It was a very lonely existence.

Then, I went away to a wonderful place - a place where people seemed to understand me and helped me to communicate. At last, I could lift my head and look up. It was a new world - a friendly, exciting world and do you know what? I was part of it.

It still wasn't easy - the bullies on the bus who mimicked me, the shop assistant who ignored me. It was hard but I tried not to let it get me down.
Gradually, I built up my confidence and more and more people understood me. I just want to be accepted and remembered for who I am, not for the one with the funny voice.

If it weren't for the many people who have helped me over the years, I wouldn't be talking to you guys today.

Two of our own Team have wonderful achievements recently.

Mummyhill (Asst Admin) has completed and passed her BSL level one course which is fantastic!

Emmie (Global Mod) has completed a course to qualify her to teach other people in wearing slings and carrying their infants safely. This is fabulous! This will also help her with her sling business, Kangarinos

Well done to both of you!!

Other forum members create some amazing artwork using different mediums:

Veggie uses watercolours and shows great talent. These are some of her most recently shared with us on the forum (again I have her permission to share):

For any crocheters we have a Crotchet Along A Shawl Thread running with the expert Mummyhill guiding those of us through the pattern complete with her own pictures. She really is rather brilliant. The finished shawl looks like this:

Another of our members creates brilliant digital art as well as being a jewellery designer and maker. She really is rather talented. These are a few of Angies work:

As you can see the members of Dealing With Depression have so many talents and are so much more than a diagnosis of Mental Health Illness. Please remember this when you come in contact with someone who is in need of support and understanding - not stigma and not assumptions based on media scare stories.

1 in 4 people will experience mental health difficulties at some point in their lives (Taken from The Mental Health Foundation). So help remove the stigma and be part of something far greater - understanding and humanity.