Advertiser's mental health campaign: Alloa man shares his story

It is estimated that around one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives and, as opposed to physical conditions, they are less likely to recognise their symptoms or to seek help when they do.

And though the Scottish Parliament is in the process of providing greater resources to help, the reality for some is that support is not always available.

One Alloa man – who suffers from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder and emotionally-unstable personality disorder – has spoken about how inconsistent treatment can be.

His situation is also made worse due to the unpredictable nature of mental health issues, which can spring up at any time.

Another major challenge for him is the fact that those who have no direct experience in such areas are unable to grasp its true extent.

He told the Advertiser: “I’ve not had a lot of success with mental health support, but for a number of reasons.

“Resources are obviously something that play a part and we’re always seeing something in the news about funding issues.

“Over the last two years, I have had five different psychiatrists. I felt that I built up a rapport with one of them, but then she went off on maternity leave. The doctor I had before that also went off on maternity leave.

“I haven’t seen a psychiatrist for about six months. It can be really frustrating to have to start from scratch and sometimes you’re just not ready to talk at all.”

He explains that isolation can be a double-edged obstacle as loneliness and depression is often exacerbated by a lack of social contact.

He added: “Mental health problems affect you in so many different areas of your life and it can be hard for other people to understand.

“I haven’t been out of my flat much in the last few months. You can often find yourself in cycles like that, where you feel a prisoner in your own home.

“On the other hand, some days you might find yourself in, what you could call, a wee run of luck where your demons don’t bother you for a while.

“But even then, you don’t know when a downside is going to come and it can come right out of nowhere — like a light switch, and that’s it.

He added: “Sometimes people can have an attitude where they think you just ‘get over’ your issues and move on. It’s not always taken seriously.

“As a result, you might try and hold it all in and not talk to anyone. And I can tell you, that will only make things worse.”

Overcoming the stigma of mental ill-health is for many campaigners the single most important issue facing them.

Some people may find themselves in a situation where accessing the support they need is hampered by a shame or vulnerability associated with their condition.

As a result, any hope of going back to work, or simply gaining the confidence to find employment, comes under threat.

Lesley Arthur, chief executive of the Reachout with Arts in Mind group, is one of the many people hoping to dispel the current public perception of mental ill health.

Her Alloa-based organisation helps adults with long-term mental health issues into employment or further education through a training programme.

Over the last four years they have coached 126 trainees, with around a third going on to find work and many others developing skills to improve their quality of life and independence.

Lesley said: “It’s really important we invest in educating the community, because there is a lot of misunderstanding.

“If one in four people are affected by it, then ask yourself how many people in your family, your office, or those people you walk past in the street, are experiencing these issues?

“A lot of the work we do here is challenging stigma, but also making people self-aware of their own capabilities and their strengths.

“Our hope is that we can build up an individual’s confidence, to help them lead a structured lifestyle where it is OK to have bad days. We all have bad days.”