October 10th marks World Mental Health Day. It’s a day that should be every day of the year. Mental health isn’t a trend it’s part of who we are. One in five of us have a mental health condition. You probably know and love somebody who struggles with their mental health, even if you don’t realise it.
So why is there still such a stigma about discussing it?
Among the most menacing barriers to the social progress we need around mental health are the profound levels of guilt, shame and stigma that surround these issues. Mental illness scares us and shames us. Those who suffer are often, like me, ashamed to speak of it. Those who are lucky enough to be free of mental illness are terrified of it.
When it comes to mental illness, we still don't quite get how it all works. Our treatments, while sometimes effective, often are not. And the symptoms, involving a fundamental breakdown of our perceived reality, are existentially terrifying. There is something almost random about physical illness, in how it comes upon us , a physical illness can strike anyone – and that is almost comforting.
But mental illness seems to fall into that same category, the fact it too could strike any of us, without warning should be equally recognised.
But more than simple fear, mental illness brings out a judgmental streak that would be unthinkably grotesque when applied to physical illness. Imagine telling someone with a broken leg to "snap out of it."
Imagine that a death by cancer was accompanied by the same smug headshaking that so often greets death by suicide. Mental illness is so qualitatively different that we feel it permissible to be judgmental. We might even go so far as to blame the sufferer. Because of the stigma involved it often leaves us much sicker.
Capitalist society also teaches us that we are each personally responsible for our own success. A system of blame that somehow makes the emotional and psychological difficulties we encounter seem to be our own fault.
This belief is such a firm part of ruling class ideology that millions of people who would never openly articulate this idea, nonetheless accept it in subtle and overt ways. People are often ashamed that they need medication, seeing this as revealing some constitutional weakness. People feel guilty about needing therapy, thinking that they should be able to solve their problems on their own.
Millions of people fail to seek any treatment, because mental health care is seen as something that only the most dramatically unstable person would turn to. An ill-informed and damaging attitude among some people exists around mental health that can make it difficult for some to seek help. It is estimated that only about a quarter of people with a mental health problem in the UK receive ongoing treatment, leaving the majority of people grappling with mental health issues on their own, seeking help or information, and dependent on the informal support of family, friends or colleagues.
A reminder it’s ok not to be ok! There’s no shame in resting, no shame in struggling, no shame in asking for help. If you’re struggling, whether it’s because of illness, grief, burnout, or just the quiet weight of the bloody world, please don't suffer in silence, reach out and get the help you need.
And I'll remind you that you don’t have to be positive all the time. You don’t have to be healed to be worthy. The world needs your story, even if it’s still messy. Please don’t give up. It’s important to be kind to yourself, to reflect for a minute that you are loved and important to others.
Mental health should be a "universal human right” but for too many, it’s still out of reach. Mental health isn’t a luxury. It’s a foundation, It’s about dignity, access, and connection. This year’s theme is 'access to services - mental health in catastrophes and emergencies'. reminds us that support must be accessible when the world feels most unstable. In times of crisis, headlines often heighten feelings of worry and helplessness. It also highlights the importance of people being able to protect their mental health whatever they're going through, because everyone deserves good mental health.
And the urgent need to ensure mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) reaches people affected by conflict, disaster, and displacement. In 2025, this call is more pressing than ever as humanitarian needs continue to rise worldwide.
In emergencies, one in three people experience a mental health condition, and one in twenty face severe conditions. Displacement and disrupted health systems make access to care even harder, particularly for migrants, who often face legal and social barriers even before crises.
Providing mental health care during emergencies isn’t just compassionate, it’s life-saving. It gives people the strength to cope, the space to heal, and the tools to rebuild,not just as individuals, but as families, communities, and societies.
That’s why this year’s theme calls on all of us, from government leaders and healthcare providers to educators, social care workers, and community groups, to come together. Because when we act collectively, we can ensure that even in the darkest moments, no one is left behind.
So much of what’s labelled a mental health crisis is actually a systemic failure crisis. When people live in poverty, with untreated chronic illnesses, inaccessible healthcare, and constant disability discrimination, anxiety and depression aren’t disorders, they’re symptoms of survival. You can’t “therapy” your way out of medical gaslighting, financial instability, or being left behind by the systems meant to protect you. If we truly want to improve mental health, we must address the conditions that cause distress, such as poverty, chronic illness, and disability, not just the emotions that result from them. Mental health is not separate from public health, economic policy, or disability rights. It’s all connected.
Would like to say a big fuck you to the Labour Government and the DWP who are doing their utmost to minimise the struggles of people suffering with mental health issues and to regress attitudes back to a time when "pull your socks up" was an accepted response. We don’t want job coaches we want a decent mental health service. On this World Mental Health Day, together we must ensure that all people affected by crises have access to the care they need.
Would like though to give a big thank you to all who have given me kindness, listening, understanding and laughter, been much appreciated at times. Sending love to those who need it , especially those in Gaza in this present time 💚
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