Today is World Mental Health Day and this is a blog post I first wrote most of on this day two years ago and then deleted, feeling that it was too personal. I’ve changed my mind again, at least for the time being. The last decade has seen huge change in how we view health,
Tis the season for good intentions, for setting goals and challenging yourself to be better. But I’ve been known to give quite a lot of side-eye to the whole idea of New Years Resolutions because I think that for the most part they are a trap. Once a year people try to solve all the
When the darkest days come we come together, We may never know why happiness sets us apart but, tragedy stretches out a hand and lips to kiss it better. And we were born on either end of the darkest week. But our tragedy was that those seven days and seven years separated us in ways
“You should really be more careful what you put online?” “Aren’t you worried people will find out you’re bi/mentally ill/really angry about bogs more often than is socially acceptable?” Honestly maybe. Is there a culture of over-sharing on social media? – Quite possibly. But for me it’s not that simple. When you live with mental
I have made my feeling on the state of mental health services in Ireland known in asides many times. But this Mental Health Day highlighted the disconnect between what the Irish government and its various agencies claims, and what they put into practise. The Green Ribbon (#EndtheStigma) campaign caught the support of numerous politicians. The
“The mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political and intellectual life. It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness.” (Marx 1859) In what way is health, in particular mental health a highly political and potential radical issue? In
Fresh starts can be a birth; messy, painful and confusing but without them life would not get anywhere. And aren’t we just obsessed with fresh starts this time of year? I used to be a bit of a New Years’ Ebenezer Scrooge, grumbling about how full the gym would suddenly get and the fleeting glimpses
This would feel like the middle of a beautiful friendship if I wasn’t explaining where I’ve been – again and this might take a good few lines. See, I know I didn’t say goodbye, I do that, I’m sorry. Ask people who use to know me. I just drop off the face of the earth
