Should People Be Allocated A Lifelong Counsellor?

[Raidergal2022]

People are allocated a gp, so do you think that everyone should be allocated a counsellor from a young age through life?

I don’t mean that they should see them regular but maybe see them annually as like a mental health checkup and if any issues arise they could then have regular sessions/signposting to the correct mental health service.

I think this would allow a persons mental health to be monitored through their life and would help to identify safeguarding issues etc particularly in the young and elderly. It would also help to encourage self awareness from a young age as people tend to develop strong beliefs/biases without realising which can impact themselves and society.

[Redhelen72]

//Everyone and their dog seems to claim they have mental health problems these days. It's becoming a badge of honour, especially among the young, as is being transgender.//

There is so much negativity in the statement above that I don't know where to start.
But when you watch someone struggle and wither in front of your eyes due to their mental health - then such a statement is quite frankly insulting!

[MissTerious2]

We have a pretty good mental health service in norfolk and Waveney

[lankeela]

"when you watch someone struggle and wither in front of your eyes due to their mental health" and these are the people who do have 'real' mental health problems but most of those who come onto sites like this and profess to have are mostly either attention seeking or need to get a life.

[MissTerious2]

Sometimes they just need someone to talk to Lankeela. And I can relate to that personally.

[dave50]

I'm not denying there are genuine cases but not to the extent we hear about these days. For example, if you don't like your job and don't like getting up Monday mornings and feel fed up, doesn't mean you have mental health problems.

[lankeela]

"Sometimes they just need someone to talk to Lankeela" as do most of us at times - doesn't mean we have mental health problems. It belittles the condition in those that really do.

[MissTerious2]

Lankeela. How does one know who has genuine mental health problems or not.

[lankeela]

I think dave summed it up quite nicely.

[dave50]

That's the problem, how can it be proved? Can you go to your doctor and claim you have mental health problems and be put on long term sick?

[MissTerious2]

I know very well about mental health problems from experience. I too get fed up with this current trend that labels health problem.

[wolf63]

It's not often that I am left speechless but I am now.

Lankeela, are you on a mission to be hurtful?

You have turned into a rather nasty individual in recent times.

[lankeela]

The only thing that my maths teacher taught me that stuck was to 'have the courage of your convictions'. This is social media, if people don't like what they read they don't have to turn it on. Maybe I just say what I genuinely feel rather than try to massage people's egos.

[MissTerious2]

I'm completely with Wolf on this. I really have no time for people who seem proud that they say what they think, regardless. I do have regard for people's feelings, unlike Lankeela.

/Maybe I just say what I genuinely feel rather than try to massage people's egos/

Why so bitter?

[wolf63]

When I was diagnosed with Manic Depression in 1996 I lost friends and workmates because they didn't know what to say. Or maybe they were worried that it was catching.
I was still the same person and I managed to work for eight more years - taking anti-psychotics and Lithium.

There is still a stigma about mental illness. I usually say that it is due to a lack of education or empathy for the sufferings of others.

We all suffer from days where we are depressed and in a low mood, there is no comparison to that and Clinical Depression.

[lankeela]

"We all suffer from days where we are depressed and in a low mood, there is no comparison to that and Clinical Depression."

But that is exactly my point! All those who are depressed and in a low mood who claim to have mental health issues but there is no comparison to that and clinical depression. Sure we all get depressed but it is disingenuous to claim that is a mental health problem.

[jno]

wolf, perhaps the thing would be for every GP surgery to have a big sign on the wall (or even above the door) saying PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER.

[Redhelen72]

low mood and minor depression if not helped can lead to severe mental illness - that is what happened in the situation that I mentioned earlier.

A few days of low mood, became more frequent leading to feelings of depression, which moved to feelings of uselessness then onto real issues of mental health and finally suicidal thoughts!

Perhaps Lankleela a little care and understanding for your fellow man may be worth considering

[youngmafbog]

Except the things you mention are catered for by the NHS/GP RH.

Sadly, at the moment, 'mental health' is the in thing and no end of people are jumping on the band wagon like always. And what is happening is the few people who really do need help are missed because of the shirkers and hypochondriacs

[wolf63]

jno - one of my very senior civil service bosses actually said as much to me one day. Thankfully, he was rubbish at his job and got promoted away from the area.

[pastafreak]

Mental health being the "in thing" is the result of it being ignored and even ridiculed in the not too distant past. It's a good thing it's now being talked about and not a moment too soon. A person's mental health is just as important as their physical well being. Problems can be hidden, and care given too late. As for the young being on the bandwagon, modern society puts pressures on them that were inconceivable "back in our day". God knows how my panic and agoraphobia would have been treated had I lived here in the 70s. At least things have moved on somewhat.