Its World Mental Health Day. 


All day my Twitter feed has been full of #worldmentalhealthday posts. Mental Health has been in the news. The Government shut up about Brexit for two seconds and announced an Anti-Suicide minister (I mean ffs. Thats a blog for another day!)

It is so great that people are finally talking about the issue. Its great that more people are finding the strength to admit they have a mental health issue. Its great. 

Or is it? 

Starting to talk about the issue has opened the floodgates. Now nearly everyone I know in real life, online and in celebrity land has a story to tell. 

Everyone has a label. Depression, Bi-polar, Anxiety, ASD, ADHD, PTSD, the list of letters goes on. 

But does a label help? Having *label* entitles you to your story. You excuse another person’s behaviour because they have *label*. “Ah, poor them, they have *label* that must be terrible.” I have *label* therefore I must have this or that therapy or medication. I have *label* therefore I will act this way.

*label* explains you. 

*label* is no longer something to be ashamed of. 

But now you’re you with *label*.

Everyone has a label. 

And what does that tell us? 

That having a label is normal. Lets make not having a label the new abnormal? 
Is that what we want? 

Or do we actually want things to change? 

The *label* isnt bad but is what caused it? Can we change that? 

If you have a label then the world is expected to adapt for you. Cant we just adapt for the person? 

Shall we just stop listening to the label and listen to the person’s story? 

How can we change the world so its better for everyone? 
And what about the minority of people without a label? Well surely they won’t mind being treated as individuals. Surely even the non-labels want that. 

Shall we just do away with labels and find a better way to live? 

I dont want to be defined by my *label*. My *label* does not tell you about me or my story. 


I dont want to say “My name is Nic and I have depression”. 

I just want to be me. I just want to be accepted as me. 

Some days I want to talk, some days I want to be left alone. Some days I feel like Im living in a black hole. Some days I feel totally worthless. Some days I feel like life is pointless. Some days I wish I was someone else with a totally different life. Some days getting out of bed is like a marathon. Some days I’d rather not exist. 


But everyday I’m still me.

Everyday I have something to offer. Everyday I have something to say. Everyday I have something to give. 

Maybe its time to stop talking and start changing.