Editorial By Jessica Aldridge & Cullen Smith Mental illness doesn’t discriminate. It can affect us all. It can manifest at any point in a person’s life. Adolescence can be a particularly difficult time. Academic pressures, puberty and making new friends have been highlighted as key triggers for mental health problems. For some young people from minority backgrounds, who face additional challenges of discrimination and pressures within their own community, emotional wellbeing can be a real struggle. Looking after our minds is increasingly important; especially since a new Public Health England report estimated that one in ten young people in London suffer from some signifcant mental health problems.
Yet the level of government investment in support and prevention services is shockingly low, with just 0.9% of local authority health budgets in England spent on mental health in 2015/16 – down from 1.4% in 2013/14. One thing we can do about this is to share more information about mental health and how it can affect our lives. In this edition, we delve into some of the stereotypes and taboos, and explore some of the coping mechanisms young people use. If you’re affected by any of the issues raised in this magazine, you can contact Childline, the Samaritans or Youngminds. See the back page for contact details.
Exposure is an award winning youth communications enterprise. If you are considering a career as a creative professional or just want to improve on key skills, increasing your chances of employment, then get involved. Gain the confidence, know-how, contacts and experience required to succeed in your career. Exposure is a registered trademark of Exposure Organisation Limited, registered in England no. 03455480 Registered charity no. 1073922. The views expressed by young people in Exposure do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or its funders. (c) 2017. All rights reserved. ISSN 1362-8585
Contributors
Khalid Al-Roubaie
Jessica Aldridge Marie Anna Thoma Mathew Armsby Chinnene Basilwa Maryse Baya Francesco Callara
Cullen Smith
Nadira Ibrahim
Sasho Dotchev Jasmine Elliot Bassil Elnaiem Max Ferreria Samantha Gentle Bethan Holder
020 8883 0260 07715 642 918 info@exposure.org.uk www.exposure.org.uk
Firdowsa Abdulle Amanda Boakye-Duah Ethan King Gregory Ledniowski Susana Mariz Bradley Neville Amber Ojeer Shrayah Patel
Hayaati Njuki
Amina Seghir Merniz Kweku Sekyi Dorin Seremet Lenny Spriggs-Cheverton Kathleen Wilkinson
exposureorg exposureuk exposureorg exposure_org
Special thanks to John Lyon’s Charity for providing the grant to make this project possible. Thank you to the students at Woodhouse College, East Barnet School and Barnet and Southgate College. Thank you also to the volunteers who modelled for the featured images.
THE GREAT ESCAPISM Khalid Al-Roubaie explores his own procrastination I get home from college, and I’m stressed out. A Physics test tomorrow. That History essay that’s way overdue. A basketball match on Thursday that I can’t miss. Where on earth to start? I start where I always do: I play some music, turn on my computer, and watch a couple of episodes of Game of Thrones. As many distractions as I can find to forget my problems. By the time I realise that I’ve done nothing; it’s too late to do anything. I promise myself I’ll do it all tomorrow, but the cycle repeats itself and the list gets infinitely longer. That’s my way of dealing with pressure — and it’s a common one: according to Psychology Today, 20% of the world’s population are chronic procrastinators. Dr Piers Steel, author of The Procrastination Equation, says students are biologically and socially predisposed to put off things until tomorrow. But my stresses, and my solutions, could be significantly worse. What if it went more like this: I get home from college, stressed out. Forcing back tears I scurry to my room, ignoring the constant stream of texts telling me I’m useless and weak. I dim the lights and reach for the blade under my bed. I focus on the new sensation, and forget my problems for a while. The marks I create here will stay with me forever. Or it could go like this: I slam the front door shut to drown out the abusive screams of my family. Later, I hang around the street corner, relieving myself with drugs. My friends pass the ‘blunt’ around, and we block out the darkness in our lives. These stories might seem rare but they’re not. Whisper is an app that allows users to make anonymous confessions and share their experiences. “I cut on a daily basis because I would rather feel physical pain than mental pain,” one person posts. 4
“My parents are drug addicts, sometimes I envy that they found a way to escape reality,” another person admits. “Just for a moment I forget that I’m falling apart,” writes another. On Whisper, people take comfort in knowing other people face similar problems, or in reading the supportive comments posted in response to their story. But it still shocks me. While I’m here, putting off my homework by playing Call of Duty, less than a mile away somebody is seeking comfort from self-inflicted pain. In fact, selfharmUK estimates that 13% of 11 to 16-year-olds in the UK, find escape in this way. Reading Whisper, I’m struck by a common theme: young people are often looking for instant gratification; through listening to music, playing video games or even soft drug use. These habits — things that usually don’t take a huge amount of effort — soothe us in the short term.
Young people are often looking for instant gratification; through listening to music, playing video games or even soft drug use Surrounded by on-demand entertainment, it’s easy to ignore anything that requires too much effort: reading books, for example. 30% of British men admit to having never picked up a book since they left school, according to market researchers, One Poll. It’s not all bad news though. Browsing Whisper — while I should have been starting that essay — I was glad to stumble upon some more optimistic stories. One user posts: “Books have become my escape.” Another claims to be able to “channel emotions into creativity.” A third says: “composing music is my only real escape.” They have created healthy escapism. One that comes not through a temporary disconnect from reality or
through suppressing emotions, but through channeling them into something positive and choosing long-term rewards over instant gratification. It makes me wonder how much could be achieved if more of us found relief from daily pressures through a creative process. But even then, we still need to balance reality with diversion. As one Whisper user puts it, “I spent so much time escaping from my problems, I forgot to actually solve them.” As most of us have learnt, whatever our hobbies, in the end, that Maths homework eventually needs to be completed!
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PEELING BACK LAYERS OF ANGUISH
Cullen Smith talks to Jess Aldridge about mental health struggles Research by Amanda Boakye-Duah Before meeting Jess, I was nervous about the questions I’d prepared. What if I came across as brash? What if the difficulties were too distressing to discuss? Having had some mental health problems myself, I know these issues can affect people in unpredictable ways. Then Jess arrived and cracked a big smile, looking completely at ease. No obvious signs of mental health problems. However, I soon learned that 21-year-old Jess has struggled with a laundry list of illnesses, including depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and severe dissociation. These can cause countless difficulties in everyday situations. “Colleagues might think I’m being antisocial by refusing to attend a meal after work,” Jess told me. “But I have difficulties in social situations and with small talk; unfamiliar places and changes of routine make me anxious.” Jess is far from alone in these struggles. The Office of National Statistics found that 13% of boys and 10% of girls aged 11-16 have a mental health problem, rising to 6
23% among 18-20 year olds. Jess’s mental health began to deteriorate at 17, triggered by rising academic pressures, bullying and problems at home. Eventually, Jess confided in a teacher who advised either speaking to parents or attending counselling. “I didn’t feel that telling my family would really help, so I chose counselling.” The school referred Jess to a local branch of CAMHS (the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) which treats patients up to 18 years old. “I was seen quite quickly, as it was an urgent referral, and the counsellor I was assigned to was really helpful.” However things changed when Jess turned 18, which meant now depending on less reliable adult services. “It seems unfair that people are discharged based on their age, instead of how well they’re responding to treatment,” sighed Jess, the warm smile fading for the first time during our conversation. Several years of inconsistent care marked Jess’s early adult life, due to limited mental health services in the local area. Others have no doubt had similar
experiences: less than 1% of local authorities’ health budgets in England were spent on mental health in 2015/16 – down from 1.4% in 2013/14, according to mental health charity Mind. Jess’s story pained me. I know how difficult mental
I didn’t feel that telling my family would really help, so I chose counselling health issues can become when untreated. Even when support is available, the quality of care can vary immensely. “I’ve been told by professionals to think about how much my problems disrupt my family,” Jess continued. “I understand this, but professionals seem to side with patients’ families, trying to guilt us into changing behaviours we really can’t help…The truth is that people experiencing mental illness can never take a break. Others can spend time away from you, but you can never get away from yourself.” Jess found talking regularly with a professional really
beneficial. “I do better when I can access counselling or therapy as it provides a safe space to talk, and I can be referred to specialists if needed.” What I found most striking about the interview was Jess’s ability to speak openly about these experiences. “I know other young people aren’t as self-aware as I am… they might need others to speak up for them to realise they need help,” Jess explained. “Mental health is a taboo subject, even now. That needs to change before we can make progress and get the support we need. “I have complex mental health problems. I don’t think I’ll ever be completely free of them or 100% ‘recovered’ - I still struggle every day. Having said that, being able to access therapy has made me able to process my difficulties and feelings. “Before I got help, I worried that I was a fraud, nothing ‘bad enough’ had happened to justify me feeling this way. However, being able to talk to someone about my problems helps me feel more able to cope, and less alone.”
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STIGMA & SHAME
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Nadira Ibrahim and Firdowsa Abdulle ask why mental health is still taboo in some cultures With one in ten people in the UK experiencing a mental health problem each year, it seems as if more and more people are opening up about this difficult topic. In 2015, the government invested in a national campaign with the organisation Time to Change, to address mental health among young people and change the way people think. Time to Change reported an increase in the number of people willing to live or work with someone suffering from a mental health problem. Meanwhile, a number of high profile celebrities, like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, are openly speaking out about their own experiences. However, as second-generation Somalis we’re surrounded by a familiar silence concerning mental health. It’s not uncommon to hear rumours like: “They’ve been possessed by Shaytan [the devil].” “She’s just mad,” or claims that an affliction has been struck upon a person by an evil eye. Why such derogatory or dismissive judgements? It’s partly because people blur the boundaries between religion and health. But also, many people simply aren’t well informed, and that’s not through choice. The civil war that has ravaged Somalia from 1991 left many people deprived of an education. With religion the only other source of understanding, it is clear why many rely on religious traditions to explain something like mental health. This problem is not just apparent within the Somali community. Discussions with the counselling service Turning Point revealed the extent of the “stigma and shame” associated with having a mental illness, among people from Indian and Pakistani backgrounds. “A good understanding of mental health problems does not exist… issues are not discussed and are frowned upon,” the organisation reported. Such attitudes prevent those suffering being able to obtain treatment in good time. One Asian student, interviewed by the website HealthTalk, said that many families in his community believe “their kids have been possessed and it would bring shame on their
family… so they prefer to keep [them] at home and not let them access mental health services.” In fact, according to Time to Change, 93% of people from black and minority ethnic groups with mental health issues also face discrimination from their own communities. It’s no wonder people don’t feel able to openly discuss their mental health. They fear being judged and treated differently by the very people who should be supporting them. So what would help to combat these stigmas? Firstly, education. This could include raising awareness through campaigns on social media or in local newspapers read by these communities. Workshops could be another option. Discussing what people think are the causes of mental health problems, and then providing them with the actual facts. Workshop leaders would need to know how to communicate with the community effectively, so nothing is lost in translation.
Minority ethnic groups with mental health issues also face discrimination from their own communities There are various examples of such educational projects taking place. At the Tottenham Talking project, 30 trained volunteers from black and ethnic minorities ran ‘eat and talk’ sessions. They invited a total of over 1,200 visitors to share their experience of mental health while eating together. If education is the key to tackling perceptions and misconceptions, it’s only part of the solution. We also need much more information about how ethnic minorities are affected by mental health. The Lankelly Chase Foundation is trying to implement this by investing £1.25 million over the next five years in gathering and sharing data on ethnic inequality. Sometimes it can feel like even if we have the key to the door, we can’t get in because the lock is jammed. In other words, even by focusing on education, many barriers to better treatment for people with mental health problems still persist. To lessen the plague of mental health taboos, the door simply needs to be opened by whatever means possible — even if we have to knock it down!
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INVISIBLE CONDITION
Cullen Smith discusses his person battle with social anxiety Ever since I was 17 I have struggled with social anxiety disorder. There have been times where it has rendered me absolutely paralysed, keeping me from the outside world. I know that this disorder is much more common than generally perceived, but sadly it is scarcely discussed. Social anxiety disorder has developed within my psyche and has moulded me into the person I am today. It has taken me a while to grow comfortable enough to talk about my issues publicly, but I have come to the understanding that if I don’t, why should I expect anyone else to? According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America* the typical onset of social anxiety is about 13 years old. This is understandable since, at that age, a person tends to be experiencing hormone changes from puberty, causing physical and mental changes. But in my case my social anxiety didn’t come to being until I was about 17. Before this I was an incredibly talkative and sociable individual. Though I can’t pinpoint the exact time that everything changed, I do attribute it to the excessive amount of weight I had gained that year from hormonal 10
*There is no UK equivalent research at present.
imbalance. I became incredibly self-conscious and never wanted anyone to look at me. The best way to describe social anxiety is to imagine facing your worst fears on a daily basis, on an endless loop, with no end in sight. The most difficult aspect is the fact that the individual is aware that they are acting out of the ordinary. They understand what the social norm is and they want, with all of their being, to comply. Yet, at times they physically and mentally can’t, no matter how hard they try. Rather than not wanting to talk to anyone, those who suffer from social anxiety have a constant, overwhelming fear of misspeaking or being offensive to others. To say that they are just ‘shy’ is an over generalisation, increasing their social isolation. This disorder is defined by the Social Anxiety Institute as “the fear of interaction with other people that brings on self-consciousness, feelings of being negatively judged and evaluated, and as a result, leads to avoidance.” It is because of these constant thoughts that those with this disorder choose to stay away from people. “You can’t make a fool of yourself if you aren’t heard in
the first place,� is my personal motto. Even after losing weight I found the social anxiety never left me. It was as though a looming cloud was constantly overhead, bashing down my self-esteem. After my first year of university I discovered that I had
It was as though a looming cloud was constantly over head, bashing down my self-esteem a problem. I was studying the health sciences, giving me ample access to research the subject. Once I understood this, I talked to my mum and sought help via my local psychiatrist, who taught me that I am not alone. I must trust those close to me and divulge my fears and worries to them. It is with this decompression, ample exercise and the use of yoga that I, personally, have been battling my disorder. Even with these coping mechanisms there are still times when I am overcome by my anxiety.
Being the center of attention is the most triggering for me. It has been a long process to get through, but with the right professional help and strong support, the effects of social anxiety can be lessened. It is astonishing how little this topic is discussed when you grasp the fact that social anxiety is the third largest mental health problem in the world. According to the Social Anxiety Institute, “It is estimated that about 7% of the population suffers from some form of social anxiety at the present time,� calculating to about 490 million individuals. It is time we, as a global population, come to understand the implications that poor mental health can have on our societies, through wider education on the subject. If you feel you are experiencing these thoughts and/or can relate to some of the stories presented seek help from your GP. The only way to start your journey of healing is to take the first step.
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A Cushion to Lay My Thorns by Hayaati Njuki What is mental health? You don’t know enough about it But still you condemn those that suffer There are two factions Those who sympathise And those who penalise We endeavour to raise awareness So those who struggle – will be treated with fairness We suffer daily – but try not to let it show That takes more courage than you’ll ever know We strive to lead normal lives That should be celebrated Not ridiculed – and hated We fight against impossible odds Trying to manage the internal damage We should be perceived as warriors Our constant battle can make us glorious So stop treating us like we are poison Rose petals cushion all of life’s thorns So see us as delicate flowers Not devils with horns. Helplines & organisations Childline: 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk YoungMinds: 020 7089 5050 www.youngminds.org.uk Mind: 0300 123 3393 www.mind.org.uk Mindapples: 020 3774 3279 mindapples.org Samaritans: 116 123 samaritans.org CALM: 0808 802 58 58 www.thecalmzone.net
(CALM is an organisation dedicated to preventing male suicide)
