World Mental Health Day

Today is World Mental Health day. 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem. Considering it's quite likely that one day someone you know will suffer with a type of mental health problem, 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems experience stigma and discrimination and nearly 3 in 4 young people fear the reactions of friends when they talk about their mental health problems.
Due to the stigma and fear of peoples reactions some people can be reluctant to seek help, which makes recovery slower and more difficult. Asking for help is one of the most difficult things to do, but also the most rewarding thing to do because it's the start of recovery. If you can just tell one person what you're going through whether it be a friend, family member or even a doctor, that is the first and biggest step you can do.
In the past I've had messages off people asking why I'm so open about my mental health and how I do it without having the fear of being judged. Well the answers to those is that there is no reason to fear getting judged. In my opinion, if someone judges you, chances are they don't understand and if they're not willing to listen and try and understand then they aren't worth having around you. There is nothing to be ashamed of. If you can be open about physical illnesses, you can be open about mental illnesses. It still confuses me why mental illnesses aren't treated the same as physical illnesses.
The reason I am so open about my mental health isn't for sympathy or attention as some people might say, it's because there is no reason why I shouldn't be open about it. Yes, I struggle with anxiety, depression and self harm, yes I am on anti depressants to help me, but that is no different from having a sore throat or a broken leg and having to take medication to help you deal with the pain.
If you think you are struggling with a mental illness, whether it be anxiety, OCD, bipolar or anything else, speak up and talk to someone. The best thing you can do is ask for help and not suffer alone.