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Let’s have an honest talk about mental health. My theory is that nothing has changed since I was a kid. You keep your mouth shut and act normal and life is easier that way. My Twitter account is anonymous very purposefully. Because this world will not celebrate your illness
When my daughter told me she was bisexual, I told her to keep her voice down. Well not really. I said it was a personal journey to be done with safe people who are trusted. I grew up watching my gay older brother get bullied every day at school. I don’t think it’s any better now.
I’ve been at the height of my profession and been unceremoniously abandoned when I sought mental health support. Nothing direct. Just a good long while of unconstructive dismissal. I was very nicely compensated for my patience, but I won’t ask for stress leave again. Why dare?
So forgive my distrust of the entire burgeoning practice of sharing and listening. I’ve seen it weaponized my entire life. People on ODSP live below the poverty line and meaningful mental health support has disappeared. But let’s talk. Because clearly we care a lot about this.
The one thing worse than people not caring is people pretending to care. It’s easier to be left alone. We can go about making a change in the world with our actions, or we can sit around talking. To me it’s rather obvious what we’ve been doing. I wish we’d talk less and do more.
(I’m the contrarian voice, remember? I’m all good, I just have developed strong thoughts here. I very much see a society that is deeply afraid of difference. The taboo of mental illness will be incredibly difficult to overcome. As we seeing. I just want the world a little better)
I will say this. Where our provincial government struggles to adequately fund a neglected healthcare system, the Bell Lets Talk campaign has really become the new church.
