"We're all human, and we all struggle." But is it OK to ask for help?

Last week we heard a lot in the media about footballers speaking up about their mental health. Like Clarke Carlisle, for example, who survived a suicide attempt three years ago and last week stood by his former footballing teammate, Everton’s Aaron Lennon, who was sectioned.

Carlisle says: “Mental health strikes indiscriminately. No one individual is less susceptible than the next. We have to get our heads round that. Everyone is at risk from it, whether you’re a journalist, teacher, doctor, forensic psychiatrist, nurse, single mum, unemployed or a footballer. We’re all human and we all struggle. Being a professional footballer doesn’t make Aaron any less or any more of a human being than you or I.”

Perhaps you can relate to this? One in four people will have a mental health problem in any given year. So if you happen to be OK at the moment, perhaps a colleague, friend or family member isn't? Or perhaps you're NOT OK? You're feeling depressed, anxious or sad? You've thought about seeing a counsellor or psychotherapist but haven't quite taken the plunge?

Chances are, seeing as you're already on this website, you're halfway there. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. Perhaps this could be as good a time as any to step outside of your comfort zone and experience the support and relief that can come from therapy.

Yes, you might (probably will) feel vulnerable. But that's OK. When Carlisle made himself vulnerable last week, I think it demonstrated great strength. As he says, "we're all human, and we all struggle," and I believe it's absolutely OK to ask for help.

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The views expressed in this article are those of the author. All articles published on Counselling Directory are reviewed by our editorial team.

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Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH8
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Written by Kelly Stewart
Psychotherapist & Counsellor (MA), UKCP & MBACP
location_on Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH8
Kelly Stewart is a UKCP-accredited psychotherapist (mBACP), and PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh, specialising in suicide bereavement. Her research explores the intergenerational trauma of suicide in families. Alongside private practice,...
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