So here we go, I’m officially writing my first blog. The thought of this is absolutely terrifying but I’m finally biting the bullet and giving it a whirl.
Sometimes we have to stop being scared and just go for it. Either it’ll work or it won’t. That is life
Alex Elle, Think Grow Prosper
So who am I?
I am Keisha. I am a Graduate Mental Health Practitioner working in Community Mental Health services and I absolutely love my job. I was actually inspired to write this blog by one of my patients. I have been working with them a for few months now, I’ve seen them go through more than one crisis and they are working on keeping themselves in a good place. What I love is how it feels being on this recovery journey together. It’s an incredible feeling when you have a good bond with your patients. Last time I saw them, they brought me in their inspirational quotes scrap book that they had started following a recent admission. I couldn’t help but feel such a sense of pride as we sat there and go through it together. I’m sitting there watching them light up and talk about why certain quotes keep them going. Now we both know that they are still at the beginning of their recovery and there are going to be difficult times ahead. But seeing them re-discover a sense of hope is so powerful and serves as a great reminder that we can all find that inner spark (even after the darkest of times).
To those struggling with your mental health
We are here for you. Feeling alone is one of the most common experiences of those with mental health experiences. Despite the increasing mental health awareness, it seems to bring little comfort to those actually experiencing challenges right now. I could write an endless list of reasons why my patients say they feel alone.
I think knowing there is so much out there is what makes this so frustrating. There is so much available but those who really need it end up feeling lost and unable to use or access it. In some ways it is understandable I myself sometimes find it overwhelming and have to dig to find the good stuff. That is why I have started to write this blog. I want to try and bring some of the most powerful tips, quotes and techniques to one place. I hope it will help some people who may be struggling or supporting someone is trying to provide help and support.
For those feeling lost, if you take anything from this blog take this: it may feel like the people around you may not understand, they may not say the right thing, you may not want to burden them, it may feel easier to keep things to yourself BUT you are not alone. Nor do you have to open up to the world to get help and support.
To those who working in mental health
This is not just for people looking after their mental health but also for my fellow colleagues. So many times, we are expected to have all the answers and in reality, we just can’t. When people ask me what I do, they often say “that must such a tough job” or “how sad it is for all those people”. I can’t help but feel frustrated by their perceptions of our jobs. Yes, this job can be tough – but all jobs are from time to time. It is a rewarding and humbling job. There are times I sit in front of people and think ‘WOW’ (maybe a different swear word for a blog???) what a shit life you’ve had but the fact you are still sat here in front of me today despite all that shows how strong you are; you just can’t see it. There are other days I leave the office and just want to cry. I question myself and wonder if I could have done more; or worry that I missed something – what if, what if, what if. So, this blog will be a real reflection my experiences working in Community Mental Health – the good, the bad, the ugly. It’s time to drop the veil and share with the world what it’s really like. I hope you can relate and can take some comfort that you are not alone and you are doing an amazing job. I hope we can develop a community for the Mental Health workers – a community where we look after each other and ourselves as well as our patients.
So, what will this blog cover?
To be honest, all sorts…
- Tips for those struggling – we know it’s hard. You come to us because you feel like you can’t. How can you pick yourself upset when getting is the hardest part of your day? We can share some advice on this.
- Tips for those who aren’t struggling – you don’t have to be at your lowest point to get help. We all need to do more to protect our mental health and wellbeing.
- Tips for helping / caring for those with mental health difficulties????
- Motivation – It’s time to make it a priority and hopefully we ca
- Real life stories about working with mental health
- News and research updates
- Links to other great tools – like I said there is so much out there, but it’s about sorting through all the fluff
Finally, how often will I post?
Well I’m going to be honest and realistic… who knows. I hope to do a new personal story at least once a week and will ask my colleagues to contribute. However, I would encourage you to join in with the talk. If you have stories you want to share, contact me! If you have tips or quotes, contact me! If you have questions, contact me! If you want disagree with me even, contact me! Lets talk about it.
I hope my writing will improve over time and feel more natural, but I hope you enjoy. Any comments please do not hesitate to share.
We're all positively potty 