Hi readers, it’s Emily and William here again, following up on our column last week, when we met with Becky Aldridge, Chief Executive of the Dorset Mental Health Forum. Today we share more from our interesting conversation with her about mental health.
During our chat we asked each other lots of questions. She wanted to know, when we think about mental health, what it means to us. Well, it’s about wellbeing and looking after yourself. Good mental health is when we take care of ourselves. Poor mental health is neglecting ourselves.
A person’s behaviour may show if they are struggling with their mental health. They may drink a lot; not wash themselves properly; stay in bed all day and won’t come out, however hard you tempt them.
We think when someone’s in that space it’s really hard to get out of it. Talking can be helpful, sometimes medication is good.
People can also move between good and bad mental health. Someone might be able to work and appear fine, but when they get home each day they fall apart. It is important to know that people can move between different mental health places during the hour, week, day or month!
So how can someone move from a bad place to the better place nearly all, or even all of the time? It’s probably taking small steps at a time, like looking outside to see what the weather is like, then going into the garden, then popping to the shops, and soon the world is not scary. Doing that while getting some talking support can be really good.
Oh no, again we have realised there is more we want to say and have run out of room! Tune in next week for more about why looking after our mental health is great for us.
The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff.