On World Mental Health Day visibility alone isn't enough

As we begin World Mental Health Day, in theory it is a great opportunity to shine a light on the many barriers and discrimination people with mental illness suffer from. Talking publicly about mental health is clearly very important: it can help us cope with stress and reduce the stigma that has been prevalent for too long.

But as someone who is visible with their own health - I have written about my own battles for The Scotsman and Huffington Post, spoken at workplace conferences and am an Ambassador for a mental health charity - I can tell you that visibility alone is not enough. It may even cause more problems than it solves.

Like many others, fear of being ‘visible’ kept me hidden away and not socialising for a long time. When anxiety kicked in my behaviour was often seen as odd, accused of being drunk when I slurred my words (a side effect of prescribed medication), or I couldn't follow a conversation. People were cruel. I felt humiliated and angry that I had to defend myself.

It didn’t happen frequently, but often enough to make me scared to leave the house. At one point, I stayed inside for a month. I’ve been well for some time now but the fear of being ridiculed never goes away. Those around me constantly wait for me to slip up. It’s exhausting.

And I’m one of the lucky ones. I lead a fulfilling life. Not all friends get away unscathed, without constant derision on social media or in the street, just for being different. I appreciate having a platform and try to make a difference. I’m thankful when strangers reach out to me and say that they've been affected by my work. I’m also aware that people dislike me for simply being me and make hurtful comments, that makes me nervous and feeds my anxiety.

In recent years, surviving lockdown tested even the most resilient of us. During the pandemic, millions of people experienced a mental health problem, and now with the country experiencing so much hatred and division within our local communities this has been exacerbated. Society has suddenly woken up to the fact that the mental health crisis throughout the UK is a ticking time tomb affecting all age groups, and we’ve witnessed that the support we all need just isn’t out there.

The tabloids write their own narrative - it’s usually front page news when a person is killed by a paranoid schizophrenic. But the kind neighbour with bipolar, who helped their community during a flood, is buried deep inside the paper. In contrast, NHS England has welcomed better portrayals of mental health in prime time TV storylines after a report showed the subject being covered more authentically.

Those who struggle with mental illness don’t just need visibility - we need to address the drivers of mental ill health and ensure universal access at the point of need to high-quality mental health services.

Where professional intervention isn't available, simple actions can go a long way.

• Listening actively and patiently: Being present for someone in distress can provide immediate relief.

• Encourage open conversations: Open discussions about emotions normalise seeking help.

• Sharing reliable sources: Helplines, community support groups, and local services can guide those in need.

• Practicing compassion: Extending empathy and patience, both toward others and ourselves, creates a safer environment for healing.

  
  

On World Mental Health Day 2025, let’s acknowledge that every mind deserves love, kindness and care.

mind.org.uk