Ali Griggs: Time to Talk 2022
Can I tell you a secret? I really struggle with Time to Talk day. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s an important campaign that keeps us thinking about mental health and how it impacts everyone. But for me it can feel like a short term fix to a long term problem. Who’s checking in … Continued
Ruth Durkin: Looking After Mummy
I’ve always wanted to be a mum. In 2017 I had my first child, a beautiful boy called Gabriel. Pregnancy and motherhood can be challenging and overwhelming for all women but I’ve had a few added complications due to my mental health. I’m lucky to have some wonderful support around me but over the past … Continued
Ainsley: How Talking and Being Open Has Helped Me
I’m a mixed race man with 2 children, who was brought up and lived in Sheffield the whole of my life. There are a couple of reasons why I’m writing this, one is that I’m involved in a campaign to get more Black men talking about their mental health – which should help prevent Black … Continued
Anon: If I Can Survive This I Can Survive Anything
My story is simple but oh so complicated. My mental health hasn’t been great on and off for years. In part, this was because I was a carer to my husband but also because of a constant background concern about our older son who had had serious mental health problems since his teens. My husband … Continued
Hannah’s Story
Hannah’s story Age: 30 I became depressed in my early teens when I was looking after my mum who was suffering from mental health difficulties. She committed suicide when I was 21. I was her carer and had to look after my younger brother too whilst my dad was away. I spent a lot of … Continued
Ursula’s Story
Ursula Myrie and Her Personal Journey Trigger warning: references to sexual, physical, mental, emotional, and psychological abuse. I am a survivor of historic rape, sexual, physical, mental, emotional, and psychological abuse. In my community it’s common because parents, grandparents and great- grandparents have been abused themselves so it’s something we don’t talk about it or … Continued
Graham Morgan: Learning from Ken Kesey
I never admitted it at the time, but I was incredibly proud to be the first director of McMurphy’s in Sheffield and very guilty for feeling proud. About 35 years ago maybe more, there was an organization called Halfway House whose mission was to provide community housing and support for young people who had left … Continued
Billy’s Story
Billy’s story Age: 15 It started a couple of years ago when I was 13 years old. When I went back to school I felt I wasn’t really prepared for it, I was in year 9 and I didn’t keep up with the pressure and preparation for GCSE. I felt like I would throw up … Continued
Ruth Durkin: A Four-Legged Therapist
For animal lovers, our pets are more than just a creature to stroke or walk. They provide unconditional emotional support simply by being there. The story I’m about to share is one of a very special feline called Bobbi. This ginger lady came into our lives through a cat shelter and was mine and my … Continued
How mental health men’s groups helped us
How did you get involved with the group? And why? ‘I was in contact with a psychiatrist for a while and they suggested that I should join. At the time I was quite isolated and not doing quite much. However, I thought that I may as well give it a go and whilst I was … Continued
Norrms McNamara: Challenging My Dementia Demon
My wife was a full-time carer before I was diagnosed with dementia and now she looks after me. Elaine saw the little signs first, I was doing some very weird and wonderful things as we say, like putting red hot tea in the fridge, emptying my wallet and ripping up notes, as well as emptying … Continued
Shea McArdle: Single, Alone, Alive
So my story is actually a story. Once upon a time I said to a few people close to me “I want to do something to help people who are struggling because of their breakup”. I became single at 25. almost 26, the first time single in my entire adult life. My whole world fell … Continued