I’ve always been a really healthy person, well on the outside anyway!
During my adult life there has probably only been half a dozen years when I haven’t either been under the care of the community mental health team, receiving some sort of talking therapy or taking medication for mental health conditions.
As a child I was always the one who struggled with emotions, my dad was the same and two of my daughters display similar traits. It turns out that we have a chemical imbalance in our brain which makes coping with stress a bit tricky and when combined with other factors in life can send you completely over the edge. Add in a new baby, financial crisis, bereavement or family breakup and you’re well on the way to a nervous breakdown.
In my dark days I have asked family to take the children out of the house, I have thrown things (sometimes at people), I have thought about driving over a cliff, I have rocked in a corner ..there it’s out. Now I don’t go around telling the world that sometimes I live on the edge but when I see someone who is clearly struggling with their mental health I share my story and it helps them see that it’s no different to relying on insulin as a diabetic, or blood pressure tablets.
It’s time for us to accept that our mental health is vital to our overall health and stop pretending it doesn’t matter. When I tell other mums at the school gate, or work colleagues their first reaction is “but you’re so successful” or “you are the last person who looks like they have depression” and that’s the point isn’t it.
I recently met with the local community mental health team in Poole and I was horrified to find that some of their clients were waiting for over two years to be seen – we wouldn’t allow that for someone with a heart condition, but with a serious mental health condition two years is a disgrace. I am proud that the Liberal Democrats have thrown this into the public arena and that we are going to invest serious money in mental health, and I want to see the stigma removed from all those who suffer so they can make the most of their lives.
* Vikki Slade is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mid Dorset and North Poole, the owner of a family catering business and mum to 4 children
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4 Comments
Vikki
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I find that the attitude of many people to mental health issues stems from fear. They prefer not to know about it and see it as a sign of weakness to admit to struggling. I think this attitude is endemic, especially in a society which encourages workers to work long hours and go the extra mile.
The increase in mental health problems in workers is directly due in my view to UK work practices and the effect of political decisions which pile pressure on the vulnerable (eg: those on benefits).
I want to echo Helen’s comments – thank you for telling us your story. We need to be able to talk about mental health to remove the prejudices and begin to understand the reality (not the stereotypes), and differing experiences that people face.
Viki Slade deserves to become an MP rather more than many MPs deserve to retain their seats.
That is all.
I have had the most horrific experience with the police. My wife and I are now separated after the sad loss of our first child. My wife has bipolar disorder and became quite ill at 8 months pregnant. She became very aggressive and I informed her midwife and social services. Her conditioned worsened to the point that she became physically violent towards me and I had to call an ambulance. The police arrived and did not believe that she had a mental health problem when I told them. The would not allow me to give an honest account as they did not want to deal with it. The ambulance came and I left them to it. She was not taken into hospital that night. I left to go to my parents, and her aggressive behaviour continued by phone calls and text messages. She then threatened to attend my work place. I informed the police about this and an officer came out the following day. I agreed with him to go into the police station of my own accord and hours later I was arrested like a common criminal. It seems that the police thought I was another person with the same name and when my identity was confirmed officers drove me to the same station that I agreed to attend and got me confused with this other person yet again, they took my identity again. I was released on bail without charge. During the investigation against me my wife was trying to arrange meetings with me, but my bail conditions would not allow me to do this. The case was later dropped without charge and I found out from a mutual friend that the baby had died.
The police interfered with a medical emergency causing baby and mother to suffer. They also stopped her from being taken into hospital by what they did and I believe that this killed the child. This is hard for me to prove as they never informed me of the death of the baby or disclosed any of the allegations made against me to cover up the endless mistakes they have made.
I have seen police disclosure where it stated that I had a previous conviction for assault which was indeed for another person.
Have have made a complaint to them and appealed to the IPCC! But I want to seek legal advice for compensation and to expose the police for the gross negligence and incompetance that I have witnessed.
I cannot believe that when it comes to getting a heavily pregnant woman into hospital they turn their back, but when it comes to making an arrest they find endless resources.