Eight out of ten people with mental health difficulties in Bermuda are not getting the treatment they need.
One of the main reasons for this, according to health experts, is that mental health stigma is so powerful on our island that people put on a brave face and act like nothing is wrong.
This means it’s vital that we know what signs to look out for, to ensure our family members and friends are not suffering in silence.
St John Ambulance highlights the following most common symptoms that suggest someone could be experiencing poor mental health:
- Lacking energy, being withdrawn or losing interest in day-to-day life.
- Seeming sad or having negative thoughts.
- Anxious, or suffering low self-esteem.
Other less typical signs include aggression, being unusually full of energy, forgetfulness, sleeping too much or too little, and eating too much or too little.
Just because someone is showing some of these signs, of course, it doesn’t mean they’re suffering mental health difficulties. But it might be an indication that you should start the conversation.
Here is St John Ambulance’s advice on how to approach the situation:
- Treat the person respectfully. If they may not want to talk immediately, consider backing of and trying again later. If you feel it is not safe to leave the individual, get emergency help.
- Remember you are not a mental health professional. Your job is not to provide a diagnosis or counselling, but you can direct the person to appropriate support, if they wish.
- Actively listen. You don’t have to try to find a solution to their problems, but you can help simply by being empathetic.
- Avoid phrases like “I know what you’re going through” or “it could be worse”. You don’t necessarily know what they’re going through, and you don’t know whether it could be worse.
Signs of caregiver stress
As a caregiver for someone who has mental health challenges, your priority can often feel like taking care of that person, even at the expense of yourself.
This can leave you feeling alone, helpless or depressed, or struggling to make decisions with a clear head.
The Mayo Clinic provides this advice of potential symptoms of burnout:
- Feeling burdened or worrying all the time.
- Feeling tired and not sleeping much – or sleeping too much.
- Gaining or losing weight.
- Becoming easily agitated or angry, or feeling sad.
- No longer enjoying your favourite activities.
- Having frequent headaches or other health problems.
- Abusing alcohol or drugs, including prescription medicines.
- Missing your own medical appointments.
Caring for yourself
It’s vital, then, that you don’t overlook taking care of your own wellbeing.
The mental health organisation Mind offers the following suggestions regarding self-care:
- Share how you feel. Talk to someone you trust, such as a family member, friend or neighbour.
- Be realistic. You don’t have to be Superman or Wonder Woman. Get a clear sense of your own capabilities and focus on them.
- Stay organised. This will give you a sense of control. Keep a schedule or planner of your daily routine and retain all important information and medication in one place.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s normal for things to get muddled or lost sometimes.
- Support their independence. Your support is great, but people also need to have some control over their care, where practical and appropriate.
- Find positives in your relationship. Don’t let it be defined by the mental health challenge.
Take a break
It might seem easier said than done but, at some point, you might also need to prioritise looking after your physical health – which can mean temporarily stepping away from caregiving.
Consider the pros and cons of in-home respite, care centres, programmes or nursing homes. Ask friends, family or your local church, or ask Government about any services that can help.
Alternatively, if you really want to continue caregiving, and can afford to take time off work, then discuss your options with your employer.
Help tackle the stigma
Whether you’re able to help your loved one with their symptoms or not, there’s plenty you can do to help reduce the stigma that accompanies their condition.
Here are some suggestions from the National Alliance on Mental Illness:
- Talk openly about mental health, such as sharing your own journey on social media.
- Educate yourself and others. When you hear misperceptions or negative comments, respond by sharing facts and experiences.
- Be conscious of language. Remember that words matter. Eliminate words like “crazy”, “nuts” and “psycho” from your everyday vocabulary.
- Think about mental illness in the same way you think about physical illness. Remind your loved one that nobody is ashamed of their treatment for cancer or diabetes.
- Show compassion for people with mental illnesses.
- Be honest about treatment. Talk about treatment in the same way would for any other illness. This will help normalise it.
- Call out the media when they are using stigmatising language or presenting stories of mental illness in a stigmatising way.
