Healthy Minds Webcast Series // Smashing stigma // Tues 27 Sep 7pm AEST

This has been great tonight. For me I am trying to break down many barriers and stigma in the fire service so it was great to listen to others to hear ideas and to reaffirm what I am trying to do. I started my journey with a a bike ride around victoria to visit fire stations and discuss mental illness, my story, inspiraration and where to get help in August. there is being a doco made by my employer and it is really gathering some momentum. My phone and emails have not stopped since and I am trying to help cultural change. I have four key messages. look after your self, look out for each other, press the big red help button and it is ok to not be ok.

Hi @BlueBay

Steph (in the video above) said she finds it helpful to talk about her illness in an 'educational' sense. Like for example, how you would explain diabetes or a broken leg - removing her own emotion out of it *which is hard!* but to educate someone on the facts of it.

Nik

I really feel for Mick.
I've been turned down for jobs because I disclosed my mental illness.
I lost my place in medical school because I had to take time off to treat my mental illness.
It really is so so so hard.

Wow @texnuggett you sound so positive and it's fantastic what you did with the bike ride around Victoria. so many people suffer in silence and it's scary. but how do you make family understand. i can easily tell people now (after 6 yrs) that i have depression and anxiety but telling my family (parents) is super difficult. I haven't told anyone that I have BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder). i really hate that name, the stigma attached to it and the traits - it's disaster.

Well done on your journey, i wish i had strength like you.

thanks for sharing

By talking about it and educating people.

@NikNik but i still think that there is a lot of stigma on BPD. The word borderline and personality are too harsh for me, i struggle with those words. How do i tell family and friends that i have a personality disorder?

Some have argued that a more appropriate name would be emotion dysregulation syndrome.

@NikNik

i just saw Stephanie's story using my mobile phone and - I cried. Sorry it was a bit hard to watch and hear her say how hard it was and it is a long journey. I started thinking about my own journey and it brought tears.