My youngest has had problems with depression and has set up a website to try to help others

 

https://www.mindofourown.co.uk/

 

As a couple of people on here know it culminated in her trying to take her own life earlier this year as mentioned in the ‘My Story’ section of the site

 

I, and her, would be extremely grateful for any thoughts from WWayers on the website that she’s set up - concept, layout, any feedback really

 

As ever, I know that your feedback will be brutally honest and would expect no less. Be critical but please make it constructive

 

If any of you are suffering, or have suffered, from mental health problems, please do submit a story in order to get her site going, but more importantly to try to help others. But don’t feel pressured to do so if you’d rather not

 

Thanks all!!!!

It looks great, to be honest. If she's designed and produced that herself she needs to consider making it a career.

 

I don't have a story to submit as I'm not depressed I'm just a miserable cunt.

 

I do find it weird that there's still a lot of stigma attached to mental health. If you crawl into A&E with your leg smashed to pieces, you get treatment, sympathy and are allowed to properly convalesce.

 

However, our brains break. Now, how is it any different type of injury to - say - a broken bone? It's your brain, for fucks sake, a pretty important part of the machine. That breaks, it should be treated properly. If they can diagnose depression, it should be treated the same as any other type of injury.

 

Anywya, hope she recovers. It certainly looks like she's making progress and if she can help others along the way then she deserves all the kudos she gets.

Its looks very well done indeed, i guess the only issue is getting traffic to it. Though even if it helps just 1 other person its been a worthy effort by your daughter.

 

Without being too clued up, can it be linked into Instagram and Facebook (like it has a Twitter account)?

 

I think anything that gets people talking and opening up about mental health has to be a good thing.

Mate, give us a few days to write something meaningful down and I'll submit my story. (Trying to say a lot without writing too much and putting folk off is the difficulty).

Will have a proper gander later but it looks a great idea.

Edited August 17, 20187 yr by gonzo

I've had a look. I'm fortunate to not have anything to contribute to it, but the site itself looks very professional and polished IMO.

Might be a personal thing but some of the text isn't the easiest to read cos of the backgrounds

 

 

Tweet a link to Graeme Fowler

 

He's followed by loads of folk who struggle

I'm really impressed mate; her story of facing her demons is testimony to her character in itself, the fact she has found the time, energy, and consideration for others to do this is nothing short of remarkable.

 

 

You must be amazingly proud, and rightly so.

 

I write a little to satisfy my creative side, so will certainly submit

Looks great to me pal. I'm lucky enough not to have suffered personally from depression but I've seen at close hand the damage it can do and that we're all only a chemical imbalance away from it

As with TMGJ i'm happy to write a piece if she wants on my own experience, Work with a lot of younger people with mental health issues, and only to happy to help if i can,

A question I'd like to ask before submitting, is what level of language is acceptable. Sometimes expressing raw emotion can be quite savage.

As ever WWayers are ace. Thanks for the feedback so far - it really is appreciated

 

Rather than do a multi-quote post I'll just do this 

 

Spider - she got a degree in Media/Mass Communication (essentially social media, etc) and then worked for a couple of media companies, one up on the Fylde Coast and one at Media City. Unfortunately the one at Media City went to ratshit and (in hindsight) was the beginnings of her serious decline so she's canned that as a career option. Despite all that she came up with the idea, bought the site domain, and built the site

 

jimmyjoojar - she's shared it on Facebook and Instagram, and also has it on twitter so with her media experience hopefully she'll get the traffic increasing. As you say, even if it only helps one person it has to be good

 

tmgj - really appreciated mate and don't worry about the language. For one she is a right potty mouth, but, more importantly, it's essential that people express their real feelings. If you're feeling that the only language you can use is cunt/shit/fuck/etc/etc then why not? As a pointer to Spider's reply, if you had multiple fractures to your leg you would be screaming worse than that in A&E

 

gonzo/DazBob/Duck Egg - appreciate your comments

 

Casino - thanks - I've passed that on to her regarding the backgrounds. Is the Graeme Fowler that you refer to the ex-cricketer??

 

only1swanny - yes please mate that would be fantastic

 

Thank you all. It really does mean a lot. The whole episode has been the reason why I've been a bit sporadic on here for the last 6 months or so and why I became as absolute shitfan as it was her that I went to most matches with 

 

As per boltondiver's thread on "What Is The Point", so many on here referred to the fact that you look after family and protect/nurture your kids

 

As a parent, getting that message that your daughter is in A&E, following an attempt on her life, is crushing. If I can help avoid that from both child and parent point of view then I'll feel that I've done some good 

Thoughts:

Top idea!

The first main bit you scroll down to  - with "Mind of our own is a...." needs, as Cassie says, to be easier to read in terms of the text over the background. Indeed the backgrounds to all the bits could be more understated - or at least build up in terms of colour intensity as they go. Might even be a bit of a subliminal message delivered that way. Plus I think the first one should set out aims there and then - why share stories needs to be made abundantly clear right there. This is important given that someone going to the site is maybe, by definition almost, needing benefits spelling out rather than digging deep, given the state they may be in. In fact, if that first page scrolled to was more of a message - maybe trying to calm people and convince them to explore the site further....building on the "and breathe" pic. Indeed, refer to the "and breathe pic" in that message.

But as I say it's a great idea and knowing many over the years who have suffered  - and indeed some paid the ultimate price  - anything that helps is to be applauded!

I like your ideas Satan, my first impression was good but you have some really good ideas there to improve it even more.

As for exposure, there is a really great guy from Warrington who is an old friend of mine who may be able to help, @adrianderby on twitter.

I have my problems myself but not I am not in the right place to share. I really hope this is a great success, you should be cery proud of her.

As a parent, getting that message that your daughter is in A&E, following an attempt on her life, is crushing. If I can help avoid that from both child and parent point of view then I'll feel that I've done some good

In my time with the missus and helping out with the young people at Streetwise 2000 in Bury those who had a supportive family (not necessarily their own just enough people who made an effort) did a lot better following a down period. You sound like you are there for her and that's the most important thing you can do. If her moods drop again don't put any blame on yourselves or her it's the illness that is to blame.

 

The missus had tried topping herself 3 times in the 16yrs we've been together 1st time I was in Jabez Clegg in Manchester before a gig. Luckily I was driving so drove straight to Fairfield after getting the call. They released her after 24hrs.

 

2nd time she rang me from Radcliffe bus station telling me she'd taken loads of paracetamol so I dashed there whilst ringing an ambulance. She was sectioned after this attempt.

 

3rd time I found her trying to take all her tablets so drove her to A&E.

 

Couple of times I've had to drag her up to A&E to see the mental health nurses. They sectioned her a 2nd time about 4yrs ago.

 

I suffer with depression too but thankfully have never reached suicidal.

 

Mental health problems can be a right cunt but learning when moods are dropping and things that can be done to help stop the slide really can help. Getting the meds right also is a massive boost.

Blimey Frank, that's some story. Must have been really tough. Hope all is better for you and her now

Blimey Frank, that's some story. Must have been really tough. Hope all is better for you and her now

As with all mental health bollocks it's up and down she's got a whole heap of medical issues which love to jump on any low moods so it can be hard work. And was part of the reason I had to stop working at the council.

The lad got diagnosed as Autistic last months so it's fun all round.

Great support from the parents in that they'll take the lad any time we need it.

Fowler is the cricketer

 

Bit of a hero of mine as a teenager

 

Suffers massively from depression

 

His book is great but just check out his Twitter to get the picture

I like your ideas Satan, my first impression was good but you have some really good ideas there to improve it even more.

As for exposure, there is a really great guy from Warrington who is an old friend of mine who may be able to help, @adrianderby on twitter.

I have my problems myself but not I am not in the right place to share. I really hope this is a great success, you should be cery proud of her.

Bright bloke is Satan

 

Pisscan

 

But bright

I'm really impressed mate; her story of facing her demons is testimony to her character in itself, the fact she has found the time, energy, and consideration for others to do this is nothing short of remarkable.

 

 

You must be amazingly proud, and rightly so.

 

I write a little to satisfy my creative side, so will certainly submit

 

Sorry pal. Forgot to say thanks in my earlier reply. Anything that you add would be fantastic. Thanks very much

 

And yes, massively proud of her. She's fucked off the whole media thing and got herself a job with Lancashire Council as a support worker to hep people who are having difficulties of all sorts

Edited August 17, 20187 yr by MancWanderer

Satan - brilliant. Thanks a lot. I've passed it on to her

 

Winchester - thanks I've sent her that twitter address and completely understand that you don't want to share anything

 

frank_spencer - wow mate. Good luck with everything and yeah getting the meds right is critical. That's one area where my daughter was badly let down unfortunately

 

Casino - cheers - I've sent her the details. Bought my Dad 'Fox On The Run' for Xmas years ago. Great book that is sat on my shelf now looking at me. I'll download the other one on to my kindle and have a read - didn't know he had a second book so thanks for that

I haven't had chance to read it but I will.

 

I was in a bad car crash in 1996. Ended up with a broken neck. I know it sounds cliche but I really did see my life flash past my eyes. I honestly thought I was a goner

 

I was in a hospital in Sheffield whilst family was in Bolton so day to day visits weren't common.

 

I was going into my final year at uni and wanted to graduate with my mates. I concentrated on the physical aspects of getting better but ignored the mental side of the impact it had on me.

 

It stayed buried at the back of my mind for twenty years and I never tackled it. It took a girlfriend to notice it only a couple of years ago that I was suffering from depression. I thought "me depressed, never" I'm a happy go lucky chap

 

Fortunately I had a GP with a depression background and then started seeing a therapist. Both linked it back to the car crash. I'm better now but I think back to relationships I've lost in that time because I was an arse at times

I love threads like this and I love things set up like that website.

 

You see and hear stuff like its good to talk and all that stuff, but it’s on worth talking about it, if the person you’re talking too has suffered or knows what the fuck you’re going on about. And that’s not anyone who doesn’t get its fault either.

Send a tweet to bryz1

 

Brian Wilkie. Guy will get this noticed 100%

Edited August 18, 20187 yr by Escobarp

I haven't had chance to read it but I will.

 

I was in a bad car crash in 1996. Ended up with a broken neck. I know it sounds cliche but I really did see my life flash past my eyes. I honestly thought I was a goner

 

I was in a hospital in Sheffield whilst family was in Bolton so day to day visits weren't common.

 

I was going into my final year at uni and wanted to graduate with my mates. I concentrated on the physical aspects of getting better but ignored the mental side of the impact it had on me.

 

It stayed buried at the back of my mind for twenty years and I never tackled it. It took a girlfriend to notice it only a couple of years ago that I was suffering from depression. I thought "me depressed, never" I'm a happy go lucky chap

 

Fortunately I had a GP with a depression background and then started seeing a therapist. Both linked it back to the car crash. I'm better now but I think back to relationships I've lost in that time because I was an arse at times

A really good mate of mine had about a year off work a few years ago because he became totally agoraphobic and couldn’t leave the house.

 

He’s one of the happiest, most hard working lads I know so this was a total surprise and he was diagnosed and depressed.

 

Now this didn’t add up. Not one bit. Even he couldn’t see where the diagnosis came from.

 

Anyway, he was having test after test after test. It was only after about 18 months that one doctor asked if he’d ever been in an accident. Which he had. A car crash that caused him severe whiplash from a side impact.

 

They did a scan on his neck and found an air pocket in between some vertebrae. Quick op to sort it, and within 2 weeks he was on a plane to Australian for a holiday.

 

So when people say depression is only caused by being fed up/skint/ parents/ being soft etc etc. I know that’s bullshit. It is a physical breakage.

 

And madness that it still has the stigma and attitude of just throwing pills at it.

If you havent seen it, Neville Southall's twitter account is excellent and a website link would reach quite an audience.

 

Good luck.