Recently reading that nearly 5 people every day were sectioned across Wales during 2020 really had an effect on me. I decided to stand for election because of my experience not only in the business world but because I am one of those detentions by the police under section 136 of the 1983 mental health act.
The night I lost all rights and became a individual protected by the state for my own safety and society, will remain with me for my entire life. Police collected me following my family contacting them and I was driven to the nearest hospital, and was held there for my own protection. I was in my late twenties at the time and had never expected myself to reach the point of crisis as I did. I don’t think anyone thinks they will reach that point.
The six police officers that evening were angels, and deserve every commendation for the actions they carry out as part of their duties. I wish my mental ill health had not got to the point where I needed the state to intervene, but I can’t go back so must fight for change so that someone else doesn’t reach that point.
Following that night, I was held for 24 hours and released back to the world. My mood, on release, was so low but I knew I had to go and deal with my problems. I sought out medical support immediately and saw a psychiatrist as soon as it was possible. Sadly, I was advised that it would be better to use private health care providers over the NHS because of the strain mental health services are under. I was prescribed Prozac and have not looked back since. I can only now look back and want to make someone else’s mental health journey completely different.
My psychiatrist will most likely tell you that I have low level constant depression added to by life event stress. At the time of my crisis I had issues with my landlord and typical every day work stress. These stresses together lead to a slow silent deterioration in my mental health.
I wish I had been taught in school what depression actually was. I wish that there were people in my life, at my place of work, public transport workers, community members that were aware of the signs and could have pushed me to go and speak with someone about my feelings. I think had I had community level awareness of the progression of my depression I would not have reached that crisis. I want this for the next generation of Wales.
Mental Health First Aiders are superstars and I wish we could see more of this in every section of society. Kirsty Williams has revolutionised the Welsh curriculum and now mental health is a focus, I cannot say thank you enough for the work Kirsty has done here it is amazing. A dedicated mental health minister for Wales that’s not just focused on the NHS implications is needed. This minister should be an effective member of government that can influence all portfolios as mental health deterioration does come from all parts of life. The minister should be focusing the Welsh government on the implications of its decisions on the mental well-being of the nation.
However grateful I am now of the sectioning I went through, and I understand the requirement in law to protect all of society, I wish sections were a thing of the past. I want to make it so that we as society have no stigma about depression, mental health nor sectioning. We as one big community all have mental health to worry about, and your government should be going above and beyond to make sure crisis and suicide are thought about in every single decision they make.
The one piece of advice I wish I had heard was “Talking to anyone, be it a medical professional or anyone, does help.”. Had I talked sooner about my feelings I’m sure I would have gone to a doctor earlier than I did. To those of you reading this, that will have someone to talk about their feelings please lend them your ear. My depression was a hidden one and no-one would have guessed I was at the point I was. It is a silent killer we need to fight against.
The stigma attached with talking about Mental health is rife throughout the country. I have no shame in talking about my sectioning and depression one bit. It was hard to go back to work and see how many individuals saw me slightly different. I carry my mental health as a badge of honour these days, not just for myself but for the thousands of people out there suffering. What the numbers do not show is those people not at the point of crisis – if you are one of them please talk with anyone. It can make a world of difference.
* Rhys Jones is a Welsh Senedd Candidate and Chair of Aberconwy Liberal Democrats.
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5 Comments
Thanks for that. I am lucky in never having depression myself. I know some who have and have seen what a debilitating illness it is.
Rhys this is a terrific article. I identify with a lot of it personally, and I would repeat your final point urging anyone who is feeling depressed to reach out and talk to someone. This is a great service for example. http://www.giveusashout.org/get-help/
But Rhys your article is so good. We’ve never met, and I’m a long way away in Scotland, but let me say I’m proud to be in the same party as you my friend.
Brave and honest. The people of Aberconwy have a worthy candidate to vote for on 6th May.
Thank you Rhys for reminding us about mental health in this way and best of luck in the election. In the last 30 years I have known young people who have suffered depression; they have not deteriorated, though I noticed that even when they came out of it, they were worried about having had it and that did affect their future relationships with other people. So they could have easily deteriorated further if circumstances had not been right.
A reminder for anyone coming on this that the Samaritans can be phoned free and confidentially on 116 123 – you literally have “nothing to lose” in that no-one will ever know that you phoned them and they won’t tell anyone.
Their website is at https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ and the BBC’s list of help for mental health at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1NGvFrTqWChr03LrYlw2Hkk/information-and-support-mental-health
If you share your computer or its a work computer etc. other people may see your internet history.
It’s worth remembering according to Wikipedia “Samaritans was founded in 1953 by Chad Varah, a vicar in the Church of England Diocese of London. His inspiration came from an experience he had had some years earlier as a young curate in the Diocese of Lincoln. He had taken a funeral for a fourteen-year old girl who had killed herself because she feared she had contracted an STD. In reality, she was menstruating. .”
If you have messed up in some way or suffering bad times – it may not be as bad as you think!
Indeed one often wonders why one found something difficult looking back at it – beginning to talk confidentially to someone can begin to put it into perspective.
Many people find Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) useful and CBT for Dummies (available on Amazon) is good – “Therapy” is a slightly off-putting word – it’s more techniques and exercises that can help build mental health “strength” – just as exercise builds leg and arm strength. And just as a personal trainer helps that, you can build mental and physical health on your own.
In a similar vein – good techniques to build mental health – realising for example that ignoring the news is quite a good thing ! – see “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway” by Susan Jaffers.
CBT for Dummies says that it people (perhaps especially men) don’t necessarily want to talk about their depression and sometimes have very little to talk about which then prevents them seeking out company – and just nattering to someone about the weather, TV – over the phone, in person, taking them to the pub – can make them feel a bit normal and help – don’t (necessarily) interrogate them about their feelings!
Thanks for writing the article, Rhys – if it helps people it’s worth it. And we need more help and to teach younger (and indeed older) people the techniques that may help them.
Very good luck in the elections, Rhys!