Why You Can't Simply Ask For Help With Mental Health

If like me you've suffered with any form of Mental Health issue, you'll know the hardest thing to do sometimes is to ask for help.

Some people are afraid to ask for mental health help. They may be suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, but they can't bring themselves to ask for help, why is that do you think?

Well, from first hand experience I can tell you there are many factors, pride, shame, guilt, looking weak, fear of being an outcast, fear of judgment, this alone stopped me asking for help for almost 30 years.

That's a long time for anybody to endure this kind of mental torment.

We all go through tough times, but what happens when those tough times are day after day, and you're trying your best to hold it all together? something is bound to give. 

I used to work in the corporate world as a Business Development Manager for many of the worlds largest organisations, I enjoyed the highs, the challenges, the targets, but what I didn't enjoy was knowing behind closed doors my life was falling apart, I used to dread going home to face reality, to be alone with my thoughts.

Can you imagine what it feels like going to work wearing a mask that covers the pain, hiding all the stuff going on behind closed doors, then having the pressures of work piled on top of that.

I wanted to reach out so badly, but I didn't know who I could trust, I needed my job as I had a mortgage and bills to pay, I wasn't willing to risk it.

I couldn't tell my direct line manager as I knew he wouldn't understand, if you arent educated in Mental Health I believe you won’t know, or have the ability to empathise. 

I was mentally trapped.

More than three quarters of British workers have “suffered in silence” with mental health issues, I was one of those workers

Seventy-seven percent of employees have experienced a mental health issue, research by charity Business in the Community said. And for 62 per cent of employees, their work has been a contributing factor to mental ill health.

Despite increasing acceptance and public awareness, there is still a stigma associated with seeking help from mental health professionals. While mental health screening and treatment can dramatically improve someone’s quality of life, there is often still a very strong resistance to the idea.

People may be afraid that they are “crazy” or that others will look down on them for it. They may have an irrational fear that they will be locked up. The truth of the matter is that seeking professional help is a suitable course of action in many situations.

We can't always see this at the time, we feel it's better to hide our issues than deal with them.

I'm starting to see more and more damaging information from untrained individuals online as well, like 'just as for help, or worse, 'come and discuss your mental health issue on a Facebook live', please, please do not do this, remember your employer could be watching, family members that are unaware, this can also cause longer lasting damage to your mental health if not followed up with professional intervention.

Just over a year ago I was asked to give a presentation to my new employers about anything I chose, I chose my journey from suicide attempts to becoming a pilot.

Within 3 month I was asked to leave.

There were days when I still wasn't feeling great, so I chose to take breaks in my company car instead of calling in sick, my company car was tracked so they knew I was in the car, and when, this was very big brother.

Instead of asking if I would like any help I was told I wasn't performing and as I was in a probationary period was asked to leave.

The company was well aware I had previously suffered mental health issues, and instead of asking if everything was 'ok', or 'would you like any help?', they terminated my employment.

This could easily be classed as discrimination, but if i'm honest I wasn't going to stay with a company that couldn't recognise what I needed to do my job effectively.

The reason I started my own business in helping organisations understand Mental Health in the workplace is because I've experienced it first hand, I know what it's like, I know what the signs are, I know the pain and suffering this can cause.

Poor mental health is now the number one reason for staff absence. 

Mental health training from Mindcanyon offers a cost-effective way to promote mental well-being in your organisation and at home. 

We know from first hand experience employees feel uncomfortable, or just simply can’t speak to their employers about their Mental Health, In fear or losing their job, or being seen to look weak.

Mindcanyon understand this, it’s why we educate employers on the importance of Mental Health in the Workplace, and employees on how to comfortably approach their employers.

If I was approached by any of my previous employers asking for advice on mental health or if i could come and give a talk, workshop, you know what I would say?.........of course I will, this could save you time, money and somebodies life.

If you think you have employees suffering with mental health, don't leave it to chance, I can help you. 

Please feel free to call me or message for information on Mental Health Training in the workplace.