FOLLOWING THE SALTMEN

Another do-gooder just banging on about things that don’t concern them?

Well…not really. You see, I have Depression, and have had it for years. At first I didn’t know I had it and put my “black dog days” down to just being a symptom of modern life. After all, I had no reason to be depressed. I had a good job, lovely family, lived in a nice town and had enjoyed a “normal” abuse-free up-bringing (stick that in your pipe Mr Freud). A lot of the time I felt OK and when things looked less rosy, I self-prescribed lager (cider in summer) as medication.

Disappointingly, it transpired that alcohol was not a satisfactory long-term solution. The present Mrs FTS recognised what I couldn’t see and suggested I might try speaking with my GP about my mental health. There was no way I would entertain the idea that I was some sort of nutter and, as us blokes often do, I buried my head in sport, music and beer (cider in summer).

Eventually, it got to the stage where I could not work. My brain would not allow me to open my laptop and log into work. This had never happened before and I could not think of a reason why I felt like this. Work was going OK and there had been nothing out of the ordinary going on in my personal life. It had reached the stage where I couldn’t pretend there was nothing wrong with me. As much to show Mrs FTS that I was doing something I finally took her advice and went to see my GP. It was explained to me that I had anxiety, secondary to depression and that it was the result of an imbalance of chemicals in the brain which could be helped by taking antidepressant medication. After tinkering with the dosage levels, the meds have worked really well and I have never reached the stage where I have felt like self-harming or harming anyone else. I can only guess what would have happened had it not been for the intervention of my GP – and it is not a pleasant thought.

It is estimated that 1 in 6 people in the UK suffer with mental health issues. If you suspect you are affected, you are not alone! From my own experience, just talking to people can be the start on the path back to feeling better. Professional help is available from your GP and/or by self referral to the local mental health team.

Thanks to initiatives like Mental Health Awareness days, the illnesses no longer carry the type of stigma they once did. There is no way I could have written this piece, let alone publish it, 20 years ago. But things have changed. We have lost too many people to mental health issues, a fact brought home to us by the recent death of Jack Badger only 2 days after he played for Abingdon against the Saltmen.

There is nothing sadder than someone taking their own life (apart from supporting MANUre). Please don’t suffer in silence. People will be happy to help and won’t think any less of you.

Hereford & Worcestershire Mental Health can be contacted 24 hours per day/ 365 days per year on 01905 681915.

Their website is: https://www.talkingtherapies.hwhct.nhs.uk/localsupport/

Cheers

Steve