Justification

In yesterdays blog I wrote about my own experiences with mental health care. This morning listening to the news I heard about a recently published report which backs my personal experiences up. It feel good to not be the only one going through this struggle with the system, but on the other hand no one should have to go through this, no one should have to be in the place I was yesterday when cutting myself seemed like a viable choice.

'Three out of four people with mental illness in the UK are receiving no treatment, experts have said in a new report.

The report, published by the London School of Economics (LSE), says the lack of treatment for people suffering from mental health problems is the most "glaring case of health inequality" in Britain.

Among people under the age of 65, mental illness now accounts for nearly half of all ill health suffered by people in Britain and is generally more debilitating than most chronic physical diseases, the report published on Monday concluded.

Effective psychological therapies exist but are not widely available and only a quarter of sufferers are receiving treatment, the report by the LSE's Mental Health Policy Group found.'

August this year will be the thirteenth year anniversary of my first breakdown, from this date due to the depression, but mainly due to the social phobia and general anxiety disorder I have been unable to work. During this time I have also managed to graduate, having gained a Masters with distinction. This proves my brain still works, but do to the lack of treatment and help from the system I am unable to work and thus remain on benefits. If I was to gain the much needed treatment my aim would be to get a job and thus become a productive member of society, as the current government would state.

In the mean time I muddle along, some days giving in a little too easily and some days pushing myself a little too hard.