Last month saw the return of World Mental Health Day (WMHD) and it is believed to have been the most impactful one yet. The number of people in the UK affected by symptoms of depression has risen exponentially since the start of lockdown. With more pressure on our community mental health services than ever before, prioritising the psychological wellbeing of those individuals suffering from mental disorders has never been more important than it is now.
Cuckfield resident Tyrone Stoner, who struggles with his own mental health, has set up a support group which ties in with this year’s WMHD ‘mental health for all’ theme called HOPE4ALL. This support group aims to help others who are feeling the strains of everyday life. Tyrone explains: “I have suffered with mental health problems for 25 years now, mostly with anxiety and depression. For me it comes in waves. Sometimes I feel okay and then all of a sudden it’ll hit me like a brick; that overwhelming feeling of total helplessness. To be able to help other people fight against their own mental health battles gives me a sense of purpose and provides me with a little solace in my dark days.”
Tyrone’s own mental health journey has been a challenging one. For many years he sought help from GP practices where he was often referred to the community mental health service.
“It took six months to have my first assessment and almost 18 months before I actually saw someone. I understand that these services are overstretched but people are in desperate need of help. Most of the time the doctors just want to give you medication, but that only treats the symptom and not the cause.”
Earlier this year, Tyrone hit rock bottom because he was feeling suicidal and went to his doctor for help.
“I went home that day and waited for someone from the mental health service to call me. It must have been a busy time because it took them over a week to actually get in touch. I guess that was my trigger and what lead me to come up with the idea of creating the HOPE4ALL Facebook page. It acts as an open forum for anyone who wants to talk. And not just from 9am to 5pm either. It’s there, and we’re there all the time.” HOPE4ALL now has a following of over 1,700 members. Tyrone’s colleague and Vice Chair of HOPE4ALL, Dizzie Howes, has a background in social care.
Dizzie explains what HOPE4ALL can do to support people who are affected by mental health problems: “We offer support to adults with a wide range of issues from mild depression to more serious debilitating conditions. We are not aiming to replace services that are already there but to supplement and offer something different by way of social contact, sport and fitness, board games, Sunday lunch club, pizza nights and many other things.”
Dizzie continues: “Everyone is in some way is affected by mental health issues, either their own or that of a loved one or colleague, friend or neighbour. Our aim is to try and help fill the void of loneliness that sometimes affects people, particularly in the evenings and weekends when most health services are unavailable.”
For many, it is often the stigma associated with mental health issues that can sometimes make those seeking help a more difficult task to pursue. But both Tyrone and Dizzie are keen to encourage more people to open up and talk about their mental health struggles.
Tyrone adds: “I know it might sound a bit cliché but it’s like that old saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ and that’s true and it is what we at HOPE4ALL are about.”
For more information you can email HOPE4ALL at HOPE4ALLmidsussex@outlook.com or visit https://bit.ly/3ewu2Y0