17
Nottingham Connected
Community
darkness to conducting talk days and delivering presentations on life with a diagnosis and the stigma around mental health in both my community and work place. I’ve also sat on a mental health discussion panel at the playhouse Nottingham. It’s important to build up to doing activities step by step and our area trainer Anita was very inspiring and encouraging of this. At first I didn’t get it but over time it became clear. Take it at your pace, share what you feel comfortable with sharing and always check in with yourself and other champions. I am always happy to attend any event and share my story in order to make others feel less alone.
What I've gained from being a Champion
Being a champion has really empowered me to own my diagnosis without fear or guilt. I have now started my own support group for PTSD along
with a mental health council for staff in my workplace and have recently been nominated for two awards for my work in the community. Initially I struggled to challenge some people’s stigmatising comments, but over time I have found being a champion empowering and liberating. I do not shy away from correcting people on the terminology they use around me or others.
I have gained myself. I know I’m perfect with our without my PTSD. I know that my story matters because it can help others find light in darkness and I think that’s an important message. Just doing one activity is enough and makes a huge difference to what others think about those of us with mental health problems. I don’t plan to stop campaigning until our city is free of stigma and discrimination for those of us with mental health problems...I think together we can achieve it.
As I always say… love and light keep
up the fight; we can break stigma
if we unite!
Challenging mental Health