So it's been a while since I've been here, but I felt the need to express my mind...
The other morning on the way to work and in particular a Mental Health and Wellbeing event, I experienced what is known as stigma towards a young black man on the Tube,
I could not hear what was going on, as had headphones in listening to music and was distracted from the book I was reading, but it was the slightest
glance up and the reaction and vibrations I felt from other passengers, that made me put my book down to focus on what was going.
The guy in question was asking an old Jamaican guy sitting next to me if he could move and let him sit there, the Jamaican guy - not realising this man was a mental health patient - then started speaking back loudly saying he wouldn't move.
I took an earpiece out to let them know he was a mental health patient, but the elderly man did not care and was being defiant about not moving.
The reason I knew this guy had a mental health disability, was only because I had seen the same guy a couple of weeks prior to this, on a fairly empty tube standing by the doors and shouting at them in transit.
I looked at the young man, offered him my seat...he said no, he wanted the elderly man's seat next to me, the elderly man was getting angrier, I then stood up, politely pointed to my seat and suggested the guy to sit there...he sat on the edge, looking afraid of everyone else starring at him around him...
Within 3 minutes said same guy stood up, walked towards me (I was now sitting diagonally opposite to where I previously was) and asked the lady next to me if he could sit in her seat, which happened to be on the left side of me.
The young lady (having been witness to everything that had happened) stood up and allowed the guy to sit down. He took his coat off, finally relaxed, then rested his hand towards the side between us. He remained relaxed, quiet and calm even after I got off at my stop...which goes to show he just wanted to feel comfortable around someone's energy - makes me feel he must have felt threatened by those around him and that is incredibly sad, as we are all people with feelings...
Anyone getting on the tube afterwards would never have known the commotion that was going on, but it made me think, of all the Disabilities, there is no badge or physical sign for those with mental health issues, bearing in mind the MAJORITY OF US have either have had some form of experience whether it be PERSONALLY or whether it's SOMEONE WE KNOW AND /OR LOVE.
Why in 2016, is this subject STILL SO TABOO?
In a world where sex advertises regularly on TV, where murder is shown on the news to scaremonger, where drugs are open to everyone, but many people are still afraid to speak up about mental health?!?!
So the next time you're out and about and see someone talking loudly to themselves or acting strangely, how about doing something different, like showing some love and compassion instead of steering away and laughing...
Because you never know one day, that person could be someone you know or even you...
'Til Next Time,
Sunshine Xx
