What is this cartoon saying? As absurd as it may seem it highlights a very important message about how mental illness is stigmatised and not an equal to psychical health. The truth of course when someone is physically ill there is different treatment route you take to help remedy the illness. But when confronted by mental health, why does the treatment route differ vastly from physical illness. With a physical illness it is treated quickly and have received the care they need in A&E for example, discussing openly about their illness. In comparison, a mental illness has delayed treatment ( often cases of no treatment at all), but no one is willing to discuss the illness, openly.

There still remains a huge divide between having a mental illness and physical illness. It is seen that a physical illness is more acceptable and recognisable in society, socially accepted. On the other hand, a mental illness is kept quiet, only whispered about and not mentioned in public. When others know someone is mentally ill, they act differently around them whispering and staring, often moving away suddenly. The sufferer at this point will feel shame and outcast by society. They aren’t seen the same as someone who has a broken leg.

In society today, physical illness is openly discussed, its often an easy subject to talk about and cope with ( not in all circumstances). On the other hand, mental illness people hide in the shadows and whisper about the illness, in fear/shame from the societal judgment and stigma. 

Its a well known fact that physical health conditions have a deep rooted scientific basis in society and medicine is widely researched and studied. This means generationally throughout humanity, knowledge of the human body, medicine and physical health conditions are passed on and explored deeper. We study biology at school, we are told of the vast amount of clinical and scientific career routes. It is ingrained from when we are young,  to understand physical illness, which medications are available for us when we have a headache for example. Whether we choose to or not, when it comes to the human body we have knowledge and understanding of physical conditions and treatments. But the part of the body which is a mystery still remains the human brain. Throughout our early years of learning, we are told much about the workings of the brain, what happens when something goes wrong and what conditions come of this. Understanding the brain is seen as a option in higher education and so is the study of mental health disorders.

The first time I learnt, researched and studied the human brain was in college, as I picked Psychology as one of my a levels. Therefore for the most part of my life, I never knew about mental illnesses, how they occur, the effects and treatment.  But at the same point, I knew about how the rest of the human body works, how the organs work and what occurs if something goes wrong. Why is this?? Answer: its how society is structured. 

Physical illnesses are visibly treatable and has visible symptoms, whereas a mental health illness is not visible and the symptoms are not often obvious. 

I’ve been apart of many conversations, especially amongst my family, where having high blood pressure, diabetes or a heart condition etc are openly discussed, regularly, without much difficulty or shame. However, I’ve never heard/been apart of any conversations about depression, anxiety etc, this shows there is an element of shame. Each community has there own beliefs and boundaries on many topics, but what we can see is for the majority of them mental health is very much a taboo. Communities such as the south Asian, afro-Caribbean are two communities which have the lowest engagement with mental health services. In addition, males find it more difficult to express their emotions than females, and also less likely to engage in mental health services.

These are just examples of how our society is innately structured and throughout every generation, we abide by the unspoken laws and boundaries within them. Our education systems are built around this, being biased and exclusive on which information is taught. Yes we cant help that this is how we’ve been brought up, but recognising it now, we can start to change this so the next generation learn from a young age about mental illness.

This change has begun, as schools ae now teaching children to talk about their emotions, they have mindfulness classes/sessions, and school subjects now include learning about the brain and mental illness. Workplaces are incorporating mindfulness sessions, recognising that someone may not go into work because they are having a bad day due to anxiety or depression etc. More and more celebrities are highlighting mental health and campaigning to raise awareness. All these positive steps forward are occurring, and a shift happening in society to being more inclusive and accepting of mental illness.

But why do sufferer’s still feel shame, unable to talk about their illness and carry the burden on their own?

Harsh answer is: there is a pattern in society for ‘condition of the month’. Currently suicide is gaining a lot of media attention, through celebrities. But what about Joe Bloggs whom has suffered with depression for years, made several attempts to end his life and is living isolated from the community. Does he not get media attention? This is the real side of the illness, the ugly truth. Its not all straight forward as made out in the media. Its endless suffering and fighting a battle daily in hopes of not loosing yourself to the illness.  Every second someone commits suicide somewhere around the world, and even at that massive extent of human life loss,  it isn’t highlighted until its suicide prevention day, mental health awareness month or a celebrity unfortunately commits suicide. In mainstream news, as much as we get up-dates in medical research, we should also receive up-dates and news alerts in psychological/psychiatric research. This will continuously expose the general public to mental health and create an equal mindset between physical and mental illness.

Physical illness is seen as a collective condition, where the individuals feel comfortable discussing the illness, treatment and the effect upon them, openly.  We find mental health is more an independent condition as the sufferer feels isolated not part of a collective. They fail to realise the person next to them or opposite them also is suffering in the same way they are.  Society easily turns a blind eye to things they don’t see, feel or have enough knowledge upon.

Mental health conditions hide in the shadows of society, they are always there and is increasing in size. Every so often they come out the shadows to make a brief appearance than they are returned back to the shadows. Society is only at the young early stages of accepting mental health conditions and it will be a long time before any issue related to the brain will sit confidently alongside physical health conditions.

When they see you as a strong person, they think that you do not need anything or anyone, you can bear everything and will overcome whatever happens. That you do not mind not being listened to, cared for or pampered.

A strong person is not asked if they are tired, suffering or falling, if they have anxiety or fear. The important thing is that they are always there: a lighthouse in the fog or a rock in the middle of the sea.

If they lose control, they become weak. If they lose their temper, they become hysterical. When the strong person disappears a minute, it is immediately noticeable, but when they are there, their presence is usual. But the strength that is needed every day, to be that kind of person, does not matter to anyone.

Honour , recognize, respect and thank the strong people in your life, because they also need to be reminded, loved and feel that they can rest.

We are getting lost in humanity. It’s easy to become overwhelmed, lost in a crowd and feeling invisible. The world we live in today, isnt the safe haven we once thought it was. The new technological age, has brought with it demons, realising our inner weaknesses. Our fears are becoming true, we turn for help and the help turns away, unaware of your cries for help. It’s a very selfish society!

From something which should’ve brought the world closer together, humanity stronger as we would be united. Instead, humanity is estranged from one another, conflicts becoming more prevalent and individuals loosing themselves.

The ideology and imaginary of someone curved over head down mindlessly walking looking at a 5x5screen, is our reality. But why? Everyday we look down, spending hours looking down at the lives of others, talking to people virtually, looking down. So when do we look up?? Life is precious and is time sensitive, if we don’t look up at the world around us, the dangers ahead of us, the person next to us etc.

We could literally be right next to someone whom needs help, but we are too busy putting posts up on social media about caring, that in the real world caring is becoming a rarity.

We are all guilty of this, including myself. But when we get to a point where we stop looking up, what are we doing with our lives?? We strive to be a success, have a family and live a fulfilled life. We want this, we may even portray it on social media. But are we actually successful, have we fulfilled our lives. The answer probably not. If we spent less time looking down, being nosey into other people’s lives and falsely portraying open good life, we might actually achieve something. It’s a harsh reality check!

If you walk down the street and look around you will 100% notice that at least 99% of people will be using a device either; listening to music, texting or scrolling through social media. The current young generation we have are using iPads as young a 2yrs old. Their generation will loose the ability to imaginatively play and create, have face-to-face conversation, their language may be very limited, may become socially isolated. The technological age is taking away our basic humans needs and abilities.

We constantly chasing people to talk to, even in large crowds, which have become the loneliest of places.

When someone is hurt, being bullied, or people have an argument in the street or worse. What is your first instinct? Mine is and will always be to help! But it’s becoming more and more common for someone to pull out their phone, open the camera and film it or take a selfie!!! Once humanity has reached this all time low, we must start to question ourselves and the necessity of such technology.

When I see some news articles, I wonder how some pictures or videos are taken. Then you realise no one is helping but al standing around filming it. One recently was a person had committed suicide on a railway track and a man was seen standing on the platform taking a selfie with the body in the picture frame!!! Why do we feel the need to publicise life through virtual reality. It’s becoming if you don’t post it on social media, did it really happen?

To take it further even small situations like eating a meal with your family, most or all may be on their phones for the entirety of the meal. I was at a restaurant and the table next me the couple were both on their phones, not once did they speak, and I looked around and it was everywhere. For me, I like talking and having a conversation, I rarely ignore a person and look at my phone. Because then what’s the point of eating together?

The thing is children will learn this trait and will copy, and this will become ingrained in their life.

There is an alarming increase of depression, body dysmorphia, anxiety etc. Can we really be surprised by this?

Everyone loves a Snapchat filter, makes them look cute, silly or flawless. But what image are we portraying to others. The application of many filters on your face, can lead to a false sense of self and reality. A false perception is being presented to the world, whom will see you only as your snapchat filter. Therefore when you don’t seem as airbrushed in person, the criticism and insults begin. But who is at fault?

Humanity is trapped, running in an endless circle, unable to find a way out. How can we say we have freedom and independence, when we live and depend on our mobile devices. They are attached to us, they have become our addictions.

Heard of Pokemon Go, we all have it was a game to catch Pokemon in the real world. It was hailed as an amazing game, getting people outside and walking around. But are they really? The people are walking around heads down looking at their surroundings through a screen. Instead of encouraging virtual games to get people outside. How about we go back to playing outside, exploring, taking walks, without a phone. We can eat, shop, date and even pay using our phones. We are letting technology control every aspect of our lives!

Technology and social media have become our downfall. It has its many positive aspects but they are heavily outweighed by the negative.

Please watch this video

https://youtu.be/VASywEuqFd8

Turn your phone off, look up and live life.