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Below you will find some of the personal experiences of stigma that people have
shared with us at ‘see me’. These are accounts submitted through the website, by
telephone or directly to ‘see me’
When people share their stories with ‘see me’, they all help to drive home the first person reality of
stigma. All contributions are welcome, whether as a public face, or an anonymous voice on this site.
To read the full story, click the quotes below:
"I have bypassed telling some of the people around me about my mental health problem." Lucy
"I've self harmed for over a year now and I'm beginning to have dreams of harming myself. It scares me more than anything, that something I had control of, is now out of control." Lisa, aged 14
"When I was diagnosed with depression everyone at school thought it was an attention thing." Jen, aged 19
"I have hidden the truth from employers. The workplace culture is such that admitting to having been unable to cope tars you with the label of being "weak" and somehow likely to break down again." Mary, aged 40
"Until recently I self harmed after a difficult time in my life. I haven't felt able to tell my parents or others around me that I did it or that I have been diagnosed with depression for fear of what they think of me." Katie, aged 21
"It's not easy to say we can empathise with people unless we have actually been through the mill ourselves, so for me there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I can only hope that for anyone whom I help in the future, they will see a light as well." Catriona, aged 33
"My sick line expires in two weeks, and I'm dreading going back to these ignorant, narrow minded individuals." Tal, aged 28
"I have just recently been dismissed from my job because of the scars on my arm." Aleusha, aged 16
"I never mentioned the schizophrenia or having mental health issues in the past, as I had been removed from medication and never had any behavioural issues like before. " Peter, aged 45
"I have had a bad experience with social services." Matt, aged 26
"The reaction of social services was really rude and hurtful. Even my GP (whom I have since changed) said he considered me a risk to children!" babs, aged 45
"Therefore, even though it doesn't feel like it a lot of the time, my mental health problems are also a 'gift' that I can use." Jacqui, aged 51
"When 1 first tried to get help my doctor called me a bampot and said I was seeking attention." Claire, aged 22
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![[see me]](include/images/index_r2_c2.jpg){kind=small}
![[Let's stop the stigma of mental ill health]](include/images/index_r3_c7.jpg){kind=small}
![[Everybody gets depressed. It helps to get some breathing space. 0800 83 85 87]](include/images/breathingspace.gif)
