1 in 4 people in the UK will experience some kind of mental health problem each year (sce: mind.org.uk). The WHO said that 1 in 4 people will be affected by some form of mental health or neurological disorder in their lives. Look around the room you’re currently in, think about your closest group of friends, your family, your team at work, and start counting…

If it is so common why is it still so hard to talk about it? Maybe some of us consider it a failure. Especially as men who are always believed to have it together, to be in control? An aspect of mental health condition is that we lose control in a way maybe? Although with eating disorders it’s quite the opposite as it is a impression of control over one’s own body. Other examples of mental health conditions are: depression, anxiety, addiction to narcotics or alcohol, Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, panic disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, schizophrenia , phobias,… the list is endless.

But maybe none of these names feel appropriate for our own condition. Maybe because they feel too strong as a label, maybe there’s a feeling of shame behind carrying one of these labels. But how about the feeling of pride one can feel when they carry one of these labels, have sought help and get continuous support in order to live with this condition? Maybe admitting to being affected by a mental health condition is the first step in gaining control over it? We are not defined by our conditions or the labels we are given along our life but how we deal with life situations and the person we chose to be is often what defines us in the end.