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Stephen Fry's mental health plea
Monday, May 11, 2009
Stephen Fry has urged men suffering from mental distress to seek help and talk about their feelings.
The star, who spoke publicly in depth for first time about his battle with manic depression nearly three years ago, spoke in support of the Get It Off Your Chest campaign run by mental health charity Mind aimed at encouraging men to seek help when in mental distress.
Stephen said if he had sought help for his mental health difficulties when he was younger he could have got more of the support he needed.
"For so long I tried to get on with my life and career, somehow coping with the huge highs and lows I experienced," he said.
"If I had felt able to get it off my chest when I was younger I could have got more of the support I needed.
"Mind's campaign will hopefully encourage men to speak out more - stumbling through and hiding behind a front of bravado doesn't solve anything. Seek professional help when you need it - and support Mind to get better help and services out there."
His comments were made as Mind published research showing 31 per cent of men would feel embarrassed about seeking help for mental distress with only 31 per cent of men saying they would talk to their family about feeling low compared to nearly half of women.
