Youth Mental Health Day - Take Care Of Yourself!

Blog by Tanya Q

Remembering my ongoing mental health journey, I remind myself of the importance of caring for yourself. Growing up I felt I had to take on a role of providing, helping my family where I could, paying for shopping or helping with rent on the little money I got from a zero hour contract job. Alongside college I never let myself have the time to realise I was struggling, to realise things were getting worse. I felt like I didn’t have the opportunity to do that. Struggling for me looked like missing days at college, withdrawing from friends and family, not wanting to leave my bed for days on end to brush my teeth or eat something. I wanted to forget about the world around me and sitting on my phone all day did that for me.

Unfortunately realising I was struggling came too late. But that is the reality of declining mental health. It doesn’t wait for anything and it is always there. I accessed mental health services after this and it saved me. My message to everyone is, know when you’re struggling. Know what it looks like for you. Know what it looks like for your family and friends.

Discussions like this need to be had because they save lives. Be kind to yourself because struggle and getting better requires failure and it requires falling down but eventually when you keep trying you will get back up. I know how it feels to be told endless quotes from professionals, they feel meaningless but it really is true. Take care of yourself!