For Mental Health Day 2025, I would like to ask you a question. When you are really struggling, who is around you? Who won’t judge you, who just wants you to know that you are not alone?

You see, when we feel down, not all of us like to speak about it. Over the generations, the well-meant ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ that helped resilience when the world was upside down and at war has been deeply rooted in some of us. Whether it be a parenting style experienced as a child, or a social pressure… the ability to be able to get through has been valued so highly that sometimes that means masking and putting on that brave face for too long.

What happens then? The volcano erupts, or the dam breaks. Either we explode into an inferno of emotion, or we break down and feel extreme vulnerability. I’m sure you have been there. This is a perfect time to reflect on that time… if you’d like to.

So what is the answer?
Well… yes, we can talk about it (easier said than done, right), or we can simply communicate. You see, sometimes the blocker is talking about the problem and worrying how your part in it makes you look — how others might see you. In that place, you are anchored by the past, the negative, whereas the right person is motivated by the future and your progress.

The answer could be starting a conversation and perhaps checking in on someone you trust, care about, and who respects you for being you — the person with whom you can share your silly moments, blow off steam, and know that they love you regardless. Sometimes caring about others helps us cope. It’s certainly not a long-term strategy, but it might give that dark moment some purpose… relieve that sudden feeling of frozenness.

Talk about anything — it doesn’t matter. Communication is what brings us all together. Yes, it’s a very digital world; some people struggle with that. So, choose to communicate in the way that you find most valuable to you.

Everybody has these moments; sometimes it is remembering that you are not alone. Over the years, I have found my way of healing and dealing with difficult times is to talk about them. Not when it happens, not all the time. But telling others about them — telling stories in the hope that it will help someone else find their own way. For me, helping others helps me in those moments, as it’s easier for me to focus on others than face my mental challenges in the moment.

But today I am also going to contact the EAP service we have here at IC24. I have put it off for too long and have been guided to this point by some amazing colleagues who do not judge and have encouraged me to seek help. I am extremely grateful to some of these wonderful people. There are truly remarkable individuals around us, often closer than we realise. When the ID badge comes off, the person behind it becomes clear and full of colour.

I would like to finish with a reflection on our currently hyper-digital world, linking it to that fear we have of reaching out for support. I want you to know that no matter how happy someone looks, how safe and ‘big’ they look, or how confident someone’s social media shows them as, there are others just like you struggling. But there are ways to help yourself too, by learning about you — who you are, your strengths and weaknesses — so that you can do your best to keep yourself safe and happy.

This has helped me so far, after some unthinkable challenges. If you struggle to learn about yourself alone, then there are lots of other people who will help you, once we communicate.

Click here to find out how you can be supported with your mental health.