stigma

At this time, many of us will be thinking about Shaun Winstanley and his family. Sadly, Shaun ended his life days after being told he had lost an appeal to get his job back at Tesco Express where he’d been an employee for 17 years. He’d ‘broken the rules’ by chasing a shoplifter and leaving his ‘station’. Prior to this, on another occasion, Shaun was held at gunpoint during a robbery and was disciplined for missing three shifts following the robbery. At a time when public spirit has never been needed more, this recent example seems to demonstrate the lack of support and care toward those in the workplace. What’s going wrong, do you think? DPP Law, a solicitors in Liverpool with offices up and down the UK, takes us though the subject of taking time off work.

Mental health has been moving increasingly towards the forefront of public consciousness throughout the last few years. However, there is still a degree of taboo – and, often, a feeling of guilt – surrounding the concept of taking a sick day to protect our mental wellbeing.

So what are the facts? Can an employee legally take a day off for the benefit of their mental health? [Read more…]

We welcome Beth from BooksNest sharing her personal experience of having obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the stigma surrounding mental health issues within the workplace.

In 2019, we hope that we can be more open and honest about our mental health. We hope that terms like depression, anxiety and OCD hold less of a stigma around them. But is this really how mental health is being perceived or are we still experiencing prejudicial thoughts in the workplace? [Read more…]

A lovely piece from Charlotte Underwood who needs little introduction. As a mental health advocate, raising awareness about suicide and mental health issues, Charlotte shares her thoughts on the importance of talking.

As a sufferer of mental illness for as long as I can remember, I’ve built up quite the onion of layers. I spent so many years not feeling able to talk about my feelings and perhaps not understanding what mental health was. So, what came as symptoms of distress as a child, turned into an adulthood with much more complicated and worsened mental health. [Read more…]

Another wonderful piece from our resident guest writer, Tim, sharing some family history and touching on how being mindful has played a part when encountering and revisiting events. Sit back, read and enjoy.

The names, you know, they can hurt me, hurt you. And that hurt is harder to heal than a broken bone.

At work yesterday I had to listen to a man who declared himself to be 70 years old. He was opining that the UK needed to leave the EU because, in his words, “It is full of East Germans and Jews!”. Because my work is 100% customer service, I chose to listen to his bigotry rather than challenge him on it. In my own time I can challenge folk, but in the firm’s time I work to uphold their interests. [Read more…]

Because even if I do have challenges (and don’t we all), I don’t want to be considered a failure. It’s not like I’m sick! (Psst! You don’t need to be ill to gain new perspectives.)  The cultural shift is under way. People ARE becoming more comfortable engaging a counsellor because the psychological wellbeing knowledge base is growing. IT’s out there! [Read more…]

Life is full of unexpected happenings and today our guest author, Tim, shares what for some will be a biggie. For others, they can find acceptance quite easily. So, why is that?

It’s a dilemma, is sexual orientation. Unless you are heterosexual and conform to the heteronormative society we live in, that is. Then it isn’t a dilemma at all. The rest of us either conform, or we don’t. So, the question “How do you react to the unexpected?” needs to be asked.

Actually, it needs to be answered.

If you’re a people person then a surprise party held for you won’t worry you… or will it?

• Unexpected inheritance beyond the dreams of avarice, that’s great, isn’t it… or are you not so sure?
• Fred, the chap who’s the lifeblood of the office is going out with Mary, they look so good together, but they’ve kept it a secret forever.
• The company is downsizing, and I’m afraid your job is one of those that is being removed. We’ll give you outplacement consultancy.
• Alan, happily married for the last 15 years with a couple of really sweet children, one 12, one 10, long-term friend, guest at your wedding with his wife Andrea, tells you he is gay.

[Read more…]

A series of accounts from those living with challenges, primarily involving mental health, which will afford the reader an opportunity to ‘walk in the shoes’ of amazingly tenacious individuals, allowing the reader to grow their knowledge, so reducing stigma and helping to find understanding.     [Read more…]

This is a call for you – or someone you know – to share a story. Whether a seasoned author or someone who wants to share their pain (in writing); be that psychological – or physiological. #bloggerswanted

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I’m pleased to offer this infographic, on behalf of Nursing School Hub, The Ups and Downs of Bipolar Disorder. [Read more…]

In this wonderful age of easy to access information, there are countless points of reference to learn about all facets of our psychological wellbeing, and about when we are less well! Can we then, now celebrate our journey into reduced stigma? Yes… and a big no! [Read more…]