It's okay not to be okay

You shouldn't be ashamed for feeling down, or having a mental illness. But I understand why you do.

Stigma (noun)A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.

The stigma around mental illness means that people with mental health issues are looked upon negatively. Whether it's labels like 'weak', 'psycho' or 'too sensitive' or misconceptions that a person with a mental illness is dangerous, stigma causes harm. It can affect people's chances to get a job, stop people seeking help, and sometimes results in suicide.

We all have mental health. We all have good and bad days. And roughly one in four of us are affected by mental illness every year.

It's okay not to be okay. It's okay to struggle with your mental health. We all do. But it's also okay to seek help.

Find Irish helplines here.