In the wake of Robin Williams’s tragic death, it has become clear how little depression and anxiety is understood in the UK, despite its prevalence among the general population. If his apparent suicide brings more attention to mental health issues, however, then at least some good has come from it.
Individuals within the media, on social media and on comment threads have called Williams ‘selfish’ and ‘cowardly’. Others have struggled to fathom how someone so rich and famous could have anything to feel sad about. If those people had ever experienced severe depression or anxiety issues, these thoughts would never cross their minds.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, the UK has one of the highest rates of self-harm in Europe, with 400 incidents per 100,000. While women are more likely to have been treated for a mental health problem than men (29% compared to 17%), the suicide rate among British men – three times higher than the rate among women – suggests that its stigma may be holding them back. Suicide remains the most common cause of death for men under 35.
Depression and anxiety is also very common; a quarter of the population will experience some kind of mental health problem over the course of the year.
In order to tackle this problem and remove the stigma, we must become better at recognising the signs of common mental health issues, and businesses should offer better systems of support to help prevent that mental illness from becoming debilitating.
It is, in some ways, easier said than done. For people who aren’t depressed or overly anxious, it can sometimes be difficult to understand what is going through the person’s mind and to empathise with their situation. It is difficult to see things from their point of view, and it can be frustrating for the person trying to help.
I have experienced anxiety and depression from both sides of the coin. I’ve been the person who has been depressed, and I’ve been the person offering support to someone who is suffering from depression and anxiety.
Anxiety in particular has dogged me since my teenage years. At my worst points, I have entertained suicidal thoughts. Last year, things got really bad, and I got help. It was the first time I had been honest with myself, about the fact that there was something wrong. Before then, I couldn’t face up to it. I wondered what people would think of me, whether, if I was honest, I would lose my job. I told myself I was being childish and over-dramatic.
Now, I am relieved that I was finally open about my anxiety to my family, and the fact that it has led to clinical depression in the past. I am not cured by any means, but I can control it more, and I have felt a lot happier. I meditate when things get too much, and I try to practice mindfulness. However, it is still hard to talk about in my workplace. That is why this blog is anonymous.
If there’s anything that I’ve learned in dealing with depression and anxiety, it’s that a little understanding can go a long way. With the right support and flexibility, you could make a real difference for depressed or anxious employees. You could help them on the road to recovery.
Name supplied
I had depression a few years ago. I have a great job a great family however still suffered. The hardest part is admitting you have a problem once you have done that it does help dramatically. The best advice I can give is seeking help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of your will to want to get better….there is always help available
I have been very fortunate in that I have been down but have never been depressed but I realise there is a big difference.
I applaud your honesty and wish you well in trying to control your anxiety/depression as I also know there is no cure.
I would wish to say I understand how you feel but I know this will never happen unless I experience it which, I hope, will never happen but I also hope you do not take any offence at this.
Hi – very good to hear the positive thoughts and outcomes. I have been involved in mental health experiences with members of my family for 50 years and some aspects have improved dramatically e.g. the improvement in drugs from “liquid coshes” to more sophisticated drugs which allow people still to function. One main problem I feel is the delay in getting early intervention when someone clearly needs help. In addition the service is grossly underfunded particularly considering mental health can be a lifetime problem. Finally some GPs simply don’t know what to do or who to contact for help and… Read more »
The problem is trying to cope and/or tolerate work/life stress for far too log when you do not realise ignoring the early symptoms is not an option only after “adaptation exhaustion” kicks in and it’s too late Ethel your failure to act has presented in a degree of ill-health. Many will still persevere out of fear or so called loyalty to their employer or their wage packet perhaps now driven by performance anxiety. Nevertheless, living with anxiety, denying the flight-fight response to stress exacerbates the level of every day fatigue that, if not addressed, over time, will allow the development… Read more »
I have bene suffering with anxiety (not work related) for a number of months and finally plucked up the courage to attend my doctors earlier this week. The appt had been booked for sveral weeks (GP waiting lists…. another issue). I am lucky that my GP has a professional interest in Mental Health and was able to provide me a supportive network to aid me in my struggles. My LM is also very supportive having had issues of his own in the past. But with the issue being a huge taboo and a general lack of understanding by the majority… Read more »
Hi there, I’m the writer of the piece. I’m really glad this has given people a chance to share their own experiences. We really do need a better system of support. I was lucky enough to see a counsellor that helped me develop some techniques for controlling anxiety, but my time with her was limited to 6 weeks, even though she recommended I see someone long-term. When family members have been in a bad way to the point of delusion, we’ve been told: “if they aren’t a clear threat to themselves or others, we can’t help you.” Sometimes it’s very… Read more »
Hi all. Some good comments above but “Do we confuse Stress and Mental Ill Health”. I think we do and that in itself may be problematic. No amount of mental ill health is good for anyone whilst we do need certain amounts of stress to exist. My experience of this and reason for saying this, I was helping a student who was being told he was suffering from stress, which he was not, when in reality he had massive mental ill health issues. Once he was treated for mental ill health things got better. I also totally agree that the… Read more »
Good points, Tim. We do try to keep these issues separate on this site. Maybe we should do more on distinguishing between the two? It’s also worth considering that excessive stress can sometimes lead to depression or anxiety – perhaps there’s a story there as well?
Traditional medicine sa we know it does not help much because it offers only removal of the symptopms, not the reasons of illness. They give you a pill that blocks or increases energy flow so that the symptoms dissappear for a while, so you become addicted to it…. but the the real cause lies undnerneath unnoticed. The longer this situation lasts the more difficult it is to get cured, whlile your ailment becomes more and more malicious. The real cause is your thinking…because from early childhood they teach us how to think and do not teach us how to control… Read more »