Don't wait to reach out for help
A leading mental health advocate has advised “don’t wait” when it comes to looking after your mental health and that of others.
“Don’t wait is the biggest thing I would say to people,” Mental Health Matters founder Barbara Brennan tells the Celt.
“Don’t wait to change something and don’t wait to work it all out. You don’t have to have all the answers right away. It’s baby steps and you’ll get there.”
World Mental Health Day takes place this Saturday, and Barbara is advising people to seek help as soon as they start feeling different to normal.
“The services are there for you. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is, if it’s bothering you, it’s enough to have a conversation with somebody.
“No matter how bad it is, no matter how alone you feel there is always a way out and you are the master of your destiny.”
As a suicide survivor and somebody who continues to live with her own mental health difficulties, she advised: “If you think somebody el se is struggling, don’t be afraid of saying the wrong thing.”
Instead she urges to reach out to them and offer to find help and supports.
The Cavan-based woman describes how believing that you can make a change in your life is the first step when it comes to looking after your mental health.
“I waited for the next appointment, I waited for the medication to work and it never did because I didn’t believe in myself.”
Upon learning about proper sleep, nutrition, “cutting out” toxic behaviours and people and focusing on her everyday routine, Barbara “started getting well”.
“When my body felt better, my head felt better. It was baby steps all along and, the further that I got, I started saying ‘actually maybe I can’.”
With evenings getting darker, the 45 year old said “daylight has a huge impact on us”.
“We wonder why we feel low or why we don’t have the same energy, because naturally we shouldn’t.”
She encourages people to keep a normal routine and “get outside and get daylight” even for just 30 minutes in the day. “It helps increase the serotonin and melatonin levels in your body and that’s important because it helps your sleep at night.”
Supports
“A great place to start is your GP,” Barbara encourages.
You are not alone, and there is always somebody there to listen. You can freephone SAMARITANS on 116 123, Pieta on 1800 247 247 or SOSAD on 1800 901 909, 24 hours a day, seven days per week.