Goodbye Headclutcher - Time to Change photo campaign x

Hey there. How many times would you say you've seen images like this when the media talks about mental health issues?

For me, one is enough and I find it incredibly off putting to say the least. My mental health just doesn't look like that the majority of the time. Ok, ok I confess that when I am in the depths of depression I do have some images which mirror this one, however I am not constantly in that place and I certainly wouldn't want anyone to believe I was.

Why? Because even if you have a mental health issue, you are not always in that place. You have days, like we all do, when we laugh, sing and dance and those times although pinned together with the bleakness, crying and despair deserve to be celebrated too.

Stephen Fry in one of the new campaign images

 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/campaign-launched-to-stop-depression-being-illustrated-with-headinhands-pictures-10116855.html

So Time to Change are campaigning all media outlets to dispense with the Headclutcher images and go for the reality.  That all of us are individuals and we all experience mental health issues in very different ways.

So this is me today and I am feeling rather pretty I have to say...........

What image would you like to see as a portrait of your today?

Everything stops for tea x

Normally on the 27th July I would be inviting you in for tea as part of Abi's monthly meme, but today I will not be at home. Instead I will be here........





This is Bristol Harbour Festival ..................

Bristol Harbour Festival is one of the UK's largest public festivals and a chance for the city to showcase its rich musical and performance roots. Over 250,000 festival fans head down to the 2 mile stretch along Bristol's waterfront to party, dance and relax. This year the festival will take place from 26th - 28th July.

I will be volunteering for Time to Change at their popup village...............

The Time to Change Village  is an interactive space, where the public can have open conversations about mental health, whilst engaging in a range of activities and having lots of fun.

When people meet our Village Volunteers with lived experience they will find out more about the realities of mental health. This helps to challenge the prejudices and stereotypes which often lead to discrimination.

I went to Bristol for training on Monday and met some wonderful people. I am doing two stints of four hours on Saturday and Sunday.

Most of my readers will know my history but if you are new then I have been diagnosed with Bipolar affective disorder and I may also have Emotionally unstable personality disorder too (this is fairly new). I have had several major depressions and am currently recovering from a stint which began in January this year. I have never been afraid to talk honestly and opennly about my mental health and I wanted to do something positive to support Time to Change who work very hard in order to help people like myself.


So if you are in the Bristol area come and give me a wave while I chat to people.

Mental Health Awareness week x

Hello and welcome to another week of blogging. For me, this week is centred around Mental Health Awareness week. As many of you know, I have a condition called Bipolar Affective disorder which I was diagnosed with officially about 10 years ago, but which has been insidiously affecting my life since I was 18 years old. If you want to know more then do please read the page dedicated to my story, or some or my story at least.


So this week marks a week of raising awareness of all mental health conditions and I wanted to share a little of what will be happening nationally and perhaps in your local area, to do my part to raise awareness.