Opinion: Living with mental illness under a Tory Government

This article is a personal piece of writing, reflecting my experiences of living with a mental health illness in the UK and as it is a personal reflection, it will be illustrating my views on the current government within this context.

Stigma, The Government & The NHS

There is still so much stigma around mental health problems, I’ve spoken to many friends who have felt it in the workplace, at home and even in their doctor’s surgery.

I believe some of this stigma is out-dated thinking from previous generations, some of it fuelled by the false and incoherent representation of mental health in the media (which is why talking openly about it is so important). Still, many people do not seek the help they need, and we can see from statistics this is preventing males’ reaching out.

The issue of mental health stigma has been impacted in part by the Conservative government’s effect on the NHS and often the terminology they use.

Cuts made to the Mental Health Budget and Mental Health Services have seen the NHS pushed to its limit.

Mismanagement, lack of planning, listening to and even acknowledging what nurses, junior doctors and other medical professionals are saying prove a lack of care to the sick, and also to the people working in the NHS.

Removing nurses bursaries prevents many British nationals deciding to go into the career and with the recent decision to leave the European Union, many professionals that we desperately need are not choosing to come here from overseas, or are leaving us.

In light of an upcoming snap General Election, many doctors and nurses are inspiring many votes for Labour and other parties with a movement to “votefortheNHS”.

Fitness To Work

This government’s severe mismanagement of services, and bringing in third parties to assess peoples’ fitness to work and privatisation of parts of the NHS coined “Systematic Tory Abuse Of Disabled People” resulted in deaths by the suffering in our society. I feel unable to feel inspired by the Tory sound-bite of insisting they care for the sick.

Looking At Possible Solutions

During difficult times like these, people look at immigration, “health tourism” and start trying to think through the problem. Many politicians boast about who has or will throw larger sums of money at the situation, or will stop or kerb immigration, many hints at privatisation of the NHS.

Charging those who don’t show to an appointment sounds like a good idea to some, and charging people who are in A+E because they’ve drunk too much or taken drugs is a bright idea to others.

The latter, to me, is part of the stigma we have to mental health issues.

Many see people who end up in A+E with alcohol and drug problems as “bringing it on themselves”. We are not acknowledging in these instances that having drug and alcohol problems and addictions are part of mental illness.

Drug and alcohol use comes hand in hand with many people who haven’t been able to get the help they need, or it just hasn’t existed.

In my opinion, and through my experiences, I believe if we started more preventative measures and helping people at the beginning of warning signs of mental illness we would then be less impacted as a society with the later strain on the NHS, a need for beds, addiction and its toll on A+E as well as homelessness.

If you can’t understand why people with mental illness end up in that state, as a person diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar two disorder, I can tell you that you almost have no choice in the matter. Without proper help and medication in my case, when in a state, escaping the real inner torture by any means necessary seems the only way.

“As many as 15 percents of people with bipolar disorder will die by their hands, half will attempt to, and nearly 80 percent will contemplate doing so.”

I am lucky enough at present to have great support where it’s unlikely I will need to escape in that manner, but I am much more privileged than many.

In a severe depression or with mixed mania you just can’t tell reality from delusion and many people in these states end their lives. It may sound dramatic until you look at some statistics and stories illustrating the percentage of suicides of mentally ill individuals who haven’t got the help they need, or addicts and people who have fallen homeless, just because there is no access to mental health care.

I believe a lot more could be done in communities and in local Dr’s surgeries to prevent some of the tragic consequences of not getting help. Having better access to staff trained in mental health via Dr’s surgeries, A+E, and in schools and workplaces could alleviate some later stress to patients and the NHS.

Even though a discussion surrounding these issues should be awarded more depth than I’ve explored here, for these reasons alone some may vote for an alternative to the current government.

Working Life With A Mental Illness

Having a mental illness and being unable to work because of this, isn’t laziness and I’m fed up of hearing it.

I have worked since I was 13 and continue to work and study at 27 with about six months of unemployment in the years that I was neither studying a degree, at college or travelling, but it hasn’t been easy.

I am lucky enough to have had extended periods of time where I haven’t had an episode where finishing work was necessary through my working life, for many with a range of mental illness issues this simply isn’t the case.

I am currently self-employed, a founding partner for an illustration and clothing business with my boyfriend which funds my small but just about liveable income. I have also earned a Degree in Writing, and I am currently set to undertake a Degree in psychology. Despite my attempts to further my career and creating a local business, because of episodes of poor mental health when I am unable to work or have to spend days in bed, I’m ‘lazy’ to many.

Working as an employee to other business proved tough with my illness, which is why I decided to become my own boss, this is not an option for many people.

I quit my last job as an employee, as a care advisor for a private medical company during a mixed phase (mixed phases can be mania & depression which was my case).

Before I finally quit I had passed out at work because trying new meds wreacked havoc on my chemistry and physiology. I also had many delusions about my co-workers, I was hallucinating during work and could barely stay in my seat. I simply couldn’t do my job and overcome the phase I was in and also find the right mixture of therapy, antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilisers I needed to get well.

Throughout this difficult time, I struggled to get health appointments, help and respect. I understand now that I was also working way too much for someone with my condition. Part of the reason I have always worked like this is that I’m sucked into the toxic ideology that giving oneself less work, less of a hard time shows a weakness of character and mental strength. I was trying to prove to myself, and to people around me that I could do it all. I couldn’t, and it near enough killed me.

Please put yourself before the stigma, please put your health before your work.

I was signed off long-term for the first time of my life as visits to A+E and phone calls to Crisis were becoming more frequent and I was urgently put in the care of the North Bristol Recovery team, who have been amazing in aiding my recovery.

I needed this help a long time before it was given. It took explaining I was planning my suicide, was experiencing hallucinations and then an actual suicide attempt and many phone calls before I was given the help I desperately needed.

People with this condition and many other mental health illnesses are simply unable to work while they have mania, depression or are undergoing extensive therapy or drug changes, I’ve tried it, and even with my bull-headed nature and willingness to please everyone around me, I fell incredibly short.

Many people lose their jobs or quit as I did and then fall through the cracks of the system.

It’s almost a year since I quit my job and only experienced short weeks or days where I have been properly stable. (The rapid cycling version of the disorder I have means I can move from one state to another even within the same day).

The last big episode where I quit my job triggered a constant insecurity in my abilities and my confidence, during this time I put a strain on my family and friends who I am so grateful for the understanding and being there for me. I have only now, this 8 or so months later found a drug combination that hasn’t ended me in a hospital or made me very depressed or manic, and I still haven’t reached the maintenance dose I will need.

Recovery is not linear, and I’m aware I will have to manage this condition for the rest of my life. It’s a long and gradual process to get back into work. I think of the many people who don’t have the opportunity to be their own boss, fired from their jobs, had cut the benefits they need to survive and have had even more of a decrease in the quality of their lives from the government on top of their illness. This cannot go on.

People with mental illness and physical illness, the staff of the NHS and family members, will be significantly affected by furthering Tory government, which is why I’m voting for Labour on June 8th.

Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at [email protected].