- If you have a mental illness, how can people help you best? Just being there is enough. When I had a very severe breakdown, I couldn't get out of bed, let alone go out and socialise. What badly affected me during that time was lack of communication between friends, a lot of the time it felt like unless I texted someone first or made the effort then my friends wouldn't care about me. Depression is such a lonely illness, but just a simple text can remind someone suffering that they're not alone. Also, stay calm when someone is acting irrational, anxious, agitated or frustrated because they can't help it. A lot of people essentially told me to snap out of it during panic attacks, which just made it worse. Don't take it personally if someone with depression doesn't feel like going out, sometime's it's just too much. Choose your words and actions carefully, what might seem like a bit of banter might really trigger me and my anxiety.
- Have you ever supported someone else with a mental illness? Yes, some of my friends have suffered with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD and bipolar disorder. My dad has depression.
- Most importantly, how do you look after your own mental health while helping other people? I remind myself that just as I know that the people around me can't save me, I can't singlehandedly save the people I love. I treat people the way I would like to be treated. I try to live a healthy life. Personally, medication has really helped me, although it did take a while to find the anti depressant which worked best for me. Currently, I'm on sertraline and it has made my life a lot calmer, I've started working out and eating healthier and I can already feel the benefits both physically and mentally. I'm in a good place right now to care and help other people, but I know if I get bad again I have to prioritise myself.