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It can happen to anyone
One in four people in Hull are likely to experience a mental health problem during their lifetime. Hull in print talks to one resident who is using his experiences to challenge the stigma attached to these everyday illnesses.
In so many ways Phil Kay lives a life that is worthy of respect.
He spent 25 years in the British Merchant Navy, becoming a highly accomplished ship's electrical officer and radio operator.
His career gave him status, a good salary, the chance to work in the United States, Singapore and Japan, and have a comfortable home in New Zealand where he lived for 15 years.
And he is also proud of the positive role he plays in the upbringing of his 10-year-old son.
But the 48-year-old has suffered insults and been cruelly dismissed as an oddball and a nutter because he has bi-polar disorder - a mental illness often referred to as manic depression.
Phil takes medication to control the symptoms of the illness which causes sufferers to have severe mood swings, ranging from very high highs to very low lows.
However, he is determined not to let the reaction of some people stop him living his life.
And he is now using his experiences to help others with similar difficulties by working as a support worker for the Bransholme Community Mental Health Team.
"I had been having problems on and off for a number of years, but it was while I was on shore leave in Hull that my life fell apart – the next thing I knew I was receiving psychiatric care," Phil says.
"I wasn't well enough to return to my ship and that cost me my job and my career.
That was it – after 25 years it was all over."
Living with stigma
Phil says the stigma he and other mental health sufferers face can be overwhelming, making their problems seem even harder to cope with by making them feel isolated, judged and discriminated against.
He says the stigma is caused by the negative portrayal of mental illness in the media, and because people, in his experience, tend to see sufferers as a danger or threat rather than simply people living with a health problem.
"It's a real kick in the guts to be diagnosed with a mental illness, but the stigma starts when sufferers try to get their lives back together by, perhaps, looking for another job.
That's when they notice how people don't want to know.
"However there's no reason why someone who has had, or who is going through, a mental health problem cannot find a productive place in society."
Phil has been left feeling angry and frustrated by the way he has been treated because of his illness and wants people to have a better understanding and awareness about mental illnesses.
He said: "People who judge me or others who have a mental illness are just ignorant.
"For people out there who are going through mental health problems, my advice to them would be not to suffer in silence or give up as there are skilled people around who can help."
An everyday illness for everyday people
One in four people will suffer from a mental health problem – which can include psychosis, phobias, eating disorders, grief, anxiety, depression or panic attacks - at some point in their lives, says Dr Denise Brown, a consultant psychiatrist with the Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust.
"Most people in Hull will know someone who has experienced a mental health problem, be it a family member, friend, neighbour or work colleague.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of – mental health problems are very common, and just as much an illness that can be treated as any other physical illness.
Some can be short term and others can be for life."
Anyone who may be experiencing a problem should talk to their GP who will then be referred for help and treatment.
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Five steps to good mental health
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Eat well – a balanced diet is essential to maintaining good mental health. Research shows direct links between what we eat and how we feel.
Keep in touch with friends and loved ones – close relationships have a huge impact on how we feel on a daily basis.
Drink sensibly – even though it might make you feel good in the short term, alcohol is actually a depressant. Sensible drinking is important, particularly if you are feeling low or anxious.
Keep active – physical activity is a proven way to keep mentally well. Exercise makes us feel better immediately through the release of uplifting chemicals into our bodies.
Ask for help – if you think you may need professional support, see your GP and be honest about how you feel. Think about seeing a counsellor. Talking therapies can be useful in helping people to work through their problems.
'There is no health without mental health.' - The World Health Organisation.
Looking after our mental health is as important as looking after our physical health.
October 10th is World Mental Health Day
Having an accepting and positive attitude to people with mental health problems supports them in their recovery.
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Working in partnership |
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Hull Primary Care Trust tel. (01482) 344700 |
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