My Experience of Being Sectioned – By Stewart Bint
In many ways, being sectioned was a bittersweet experience. On the one hand frightening and overwhelming, but on the other, warm and comforting – forming protection against the outside world. My counsellor had originally admitted me as a voluntary patient to a private psychiatric clinic – the Woodbourne Priory in Birmingham – for stress and…
Children and Mental Health
Mental health conditions do not only affect adults, but they also affect thousands of children. Everyone has mental health and it is important that it is well looked after, just like it is important to look after your physical health. Good mental health and well-being in children allow them to develop resilience to help them…
Men and Mental Health
There is still a large amount of stigma surrounding mental health today… but for some reason when it comes to male mental health the stigma increases. Despite the fact that women are more likely to be diagnosed with common mental health conditions such as Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Panic Disorders, there are still…
Self-Harm and Suicide
This is a very sensitive, yet important topic. I have to issue a trigger warning for self-harm and suicide. If you are struggling with self-harm, suicidal thoughts or attempts, please speak to a GP or mental health professional immediately. If you feel you are in immediate danger, call 999. Useful Resources: The Samaritans provide 24hr…
Aspergers Fact File
Aspergers is a form of Autism. As many of you will be aware, Autism is a spectrum condition and each case can be very different in the way that it is presented. It can be severe or mild, but still important nonetheless! People with Aspergers see, hear and feel the world differently in comparison to…
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Borderline Personality Disorder is a disorder that affects mood as well as how a person interacts with others. BPD is the most commonly recognised personality disorder. The symptoms of BPD are split into four main areas, these are: Emotional Instability Disturbed Patterns of Thinking or Perception Impulsive Behaviours Intense but Unstable Relationships with Others. Emotional…
Schizophrenia Fact File
Schizophrenia affects 1 in 10 people but their experience of the condition may not be the same. Schizophrenia comes with a range of different symptoms and although there are risk factors which may make an individual more vulnerable when it comes to developing the condition, there is no definitive cause known. Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Lack…
Why Going Barefoot is Vital for My Mental Well-being: by Stewart Bint
Going barefoot almost all the time is not just part of who I am now…it formed a vital aspect of my recovery from severe mental illness. The fact that my bare feet are constantly connected with the ground, drawing in the powerful energy from the earth, is a coping strategy devised when I was released…
Homelessness Day
‘Not everyone who becomes homeless is entitled to be housed.’ I am just going to let that above quote sit with you for a moment… Do people really think that some homeless people deserve to be housed over others? I understand that the government’s priority would be to house homeless families, children and pregnant women…
National Poetry Day
This is a poem that I wrote many years ago when I was just 16… although I looked very different back then in comparison to how I look today, I am still very unhappy with what I see when I look in the mirror. I wish my body was in between how it was then and…